WARSAW, Poland — Poland is taking significant steps to establish an Earth observation system dedicated to its military by planning the launch of its first three military satellites this month.

A Finnish company, ICEYE, in collaboration with Wojskowe Zakłady Łączności No 1, a subsidiary of the Polish government-owned defense enterprise PGZ, is spearheading the development of this national satellite reconnaissance system. This initiative is set to be the initial phase of Warsaw’s broader strategy to enhance its military space capabilities in the near future, as confirmed by defense authorities.

The deployment of the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite into low Earth orbit is scheduled onboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket during the upcoming Transporter-15 mission.

Originally set for a Nov. 11 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California to coincide with Poland’s Independence Day, the launch date has now been moved to Nov. 19.

This project is a part of Poland’s proactive measures to enhance its military reconnaissance capabilities, especially in response to the ongoing conflict following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Today, we are developing a crucial capability for the Polish military, a capability that has been absent until now,” stated Polish Deputy National Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk at a Nov. 13 event in Warsaw. He highlighted that this development is significant as it places Poland among the nations capable of advanced targeting and reconnaissance.

As per the agreement signed last May between the Polish Ministry of National Defence and the consortium, Poland’s military is set to receive at least three satellites under the MikroSAR program, with the option to obtain three more. The initial agreement is valued at approximately PLN 860 million ($237 million).

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Tomczyk also noted that the conflict in Ukraine has significantly accelerated the development of Poland’s military space program.

“The importance of satellite reconnaissance was underscored during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Finland, where we met with ICEYE’s CEO who is present here today,” he added.

At the same event, Rafał Modrzewski, CEO and co-founder of ICEYE, expressed that the forthcoming launch of the first SAR satellite will grant the Polish military access to a dedicated reconnaissance system capable of capturing images with a resolution of 25 centimeters.

ICEYE’s collaboration with PGZ underscores its ongoing partnerships with major European defense industry players. For instance, in May 2025, ICEYE and Germany’s Rheinmetall announced a joint venture focused on satellite manufacturing, particularly SAR satellites, under the name Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions. Rheinmetall holds a 60% stake in the venture, with ICEYE owning the remaining 40%.

In the previous year, Poland established a new military entity, the Geospatial Intelligence and Satellite Services Agency, tasked with processing data from the military satellite fleet and offering related services to the armed forces.

“From the perspective of a military user, the most crucial aspects are the services received from space, including satellite navigation, Earth imaging, radio reconnaissance, and communications,” said Col. Leszek Paszkowski, head of the agency, emphasizing the strategic importance of these capabilities.

He further explained that the satellite technologies are pivotal for executing deep, precise strikes, which are a fundamental part of their deterrence strategy against potential adversaries.

Meanwhile, the Polish military is also anticipating the launch of two observation satellites ordered from Airbus in December 2022, set for deployment by 2027. These satellites are expected to enhance the reconnaissance capabilities of Poland’s armed forces and will operate within a French-Polish constellation. The contract is worth approximately €575 million ($669 million).

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