European defence technology companies Helsing and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace have announced a new German-Norwegian partnership to build a large constellation of small satellites for space-based intelligence, surveillance, and targeting applications.
The partnership comes as European leaders push for a greater focus on sovereign space capabilities, with European Commissioner for Defence Industry and Space Andrius Kubilius recently highlighting their importance in an address to the EU’s Competitiveness Council, where he reiterated a proposal for a fivefold increase in the European defence and space budget.
“The future belongs to space. We cannot afford to fall behind our adversaries. We cannot afford to fall behind our friends,” said Kubilius.
According to a 10 December press release published by both Kongsberg and Helsing, the initiative is a response to “Europe’s need for greater deterrence and addresses the strategic importance of space-based intelligence, a key lesson from recent geopolitical events.” The release also references Germany’s large financial commitment to space-based defence projects, with the country aiming to invest €35 billion by 2030, underlining a significant commercial drive behind the project.
According to the release, Kongsberg will provide the satellites to build out the constellation, while Helsing will contribute its AI software to fuse multiple data modalities, including synthetic aperture radar (SAR), electro-optical (EO), and radio frequency (RF), for satellite image analysis. Kongsberg’s KSAT subsidiary will provide the constellation’s ground segment.
In addition to Helsing and Kongsberg, Germany’s Hensoldt will provide various sensors for the project, and Isar Aerospace has been tapped as a preferred launch provider from its facility at Andøya Space in Norway.
Trond Hegrestad, Kongsberg Vice President of small satellites, told European Spaceflight that while the company could not disclose the exact size of the constellation, it would encompass a “substantial number of small satellites in LEO.”
While the partnership is primarily focused on delivering an end-to-end space-based intelligence, surveillance, and targeting capability, the company is also studying potential integrations.
“We are actively exploring multiple European defence programmes where our military-grade systems can be integrated into broader capabilities,” said Hegrestad. “Compatibility and interoperability are important principles of our architectures.”
Hegrestad explained that deployment of the constellation is expected to start in late 2028 or early 2029. This first phase of the constellation’s deployment will include a set of satellites launched to support the commencement of an operational capability by 2029.
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