German government funds Ukrainian satellite imagery through ICEYE and Rheinmetall

A graphic rendering of part of ICEYE's constellation of SAR imaging satellites, which the company along with partners like Rheinmetall and the German government gave use of to the Ukrainian government. (ICEYE)

Rheinmetall, Finnish synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite imagery company ICEYE, and the Ukrainian government signed a contract on 11 November to try and meet Ukraine‘s urgent demands for more SAR satellite reconnaissance capabilities.

Enabled by funding from the German government, the contract further increases the SAR data and other support that Ukraine receives from ICEYE. Rheinmetall said in a press release, “This provision will supplement further reconnaissance data obtained by other sensors and provide the basis for decision making and operational planning by the Ukrainian armed forces”, adding that the deal “includes dedicated satellite capacity and constellation access, which allows the capacity of the entire ICEYE satellite fleet to be utilised”.

Since 2018 ICEYE has launched 38 SAR satellites for its own and customers' use. In June 2024 the Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall announced its participation in ICEYE's fleet of radar reconnaissance satellites, the world's largest SAR fleet. In September, Rheinmetall and ICEYE further intensified their co-operation, with Rheinmetall securing exclusive rights to market ICEYE's SAR satellites to military and government end-users in both the German and Hungarian markets.

Since early October 2024 Ukraine has been receiving new satellite images taken by ICEYE's SAR satellites, under the collaboration between Rheinmetall and ICEYE.

ICEYE's fleet of small SAR satellites was designed to offer more frequent passes over areas for imagery and high-resolution images regardless of weather conditions or time of day.