Eycore and Kongsberg NanoAvionics to collaborate on next-Gen SAR satellites for NATO and allied defence applications

Eycore SAR payload assembly. Photo courtesy Eycore

Eycore, an emerging developer of compact synthetic-aperture-radar (SAR) payloads, and small-satellite manufacturer Kongsberg NanoAvionics (NanoAvionics) have announced an agreement to place Eycore's inaugural SAR demonstrator into orbit.

The flight will test Eycore's X-band radar on NanoAvionics' flight-proven MP42 microsatellite bus. It will lay the groundwork for an all-European, military-grade SAR solution that provides rapid, sovereign access to sub-meter, day-night, all-weather imagery for governments as well as NATO and allied defence applications. The launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter rideshare mission is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026.

The spacecraft will operate from a 510-kilometer, sun-synchronous orbit. At the core of the mission is Eycore's deployable active phased-array antenna. It consists of five panels, one fixed and four unfolding in space to create a large aperture without compromising launch volume.

NanoAvionics' MP42 platform will provide the necessary peak power for the payload, data downlink, as well as the attitude control agility and stability required for various imaging modes for different intelligence requirements: Stripmap for continuous swath coverage, Spotlight for sub-meter resolution of priority targets, and ScanSAR for very wide-area awareness. Together, these modes enable operators to seamlessly shift from border-length surveillance to vehicle-level inspection, supporting a broad spectrum of operational needs across intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), border security, maritime domain awareness, and rapid disaster response.

The companies have also been working in parallel on a satellite bus and next-generation payload, offering even higher resolution, wider swath, longer imaging times, higher incidence angle, and other improvements.

"Partnering with a reliable bus provider like Kongsberg NanoAvionics lets us focus on perfecting our SAR technology while de-risking the platform, launch, and operations," said Tomasz Kusowski, Co-founder & VP of the Management Board of Eycore. "This demonstrator is the springboard for high-performance European SAR satellites that will deliver tactical data for national security and defense applications."

Atle Wøllo, CEO of Kongsberg NanoAvionics, said: "Across Europe we are seeing rising demand for domestically controlled, all-weather Earth observation. By combining our small satellites with Eycore's sensors, we are giving governments a fast, cost-effective path to sovereign SAR capabilities that strengthen national security and resilience."