Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions has been contracted by Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) to supply the German armed forces (Bundeswehr) with space-based reconnaissance data via exclusive access to ICEYE’s synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation, Rheinmetall and ICEYE announced on 18 December 2025.
The current value of the contract is approximately EUR 1.7 billion gross runs from the end of 2025 to the end of 2030, but has options for a contract extension. Within the Bundeswehr the project is entitled SAR Space System for Persistent Operational Tracking Stage 1 and is referred to as ‘SPOCK 1’.
Announced in May 2025 and formally established in November, based in Neuss, the Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions joint venture will provide a high volume of SAR images each day via its exclusive constellation, offering a comprehensive service solution that includes full operations, ground station management, and AI-driven image evaluation. Production of the first joint venture SAR satellites is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026. This space-based reconnaissance data will be used primarily to protect the German armed forces’ ‘Lithuania Brigade’ and secure NATO’s front with Russia.
The satellite constellation remains the property of Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions.
ICEYE CEO and co-founder Rafal Modrzewski, stated of the contract, “ICEYE is proud to support Germany and, by extension, the security of Europe through this landmark programme. Space-based intelligence is the foundational layer of modern defence, but it is no longer just a strategic backdrop – it is a tactical instrument. We are driving a necessary evolution where single, vulnerable systems are replaced by resilient constellations that deliver timely, actionable insights directly to decision-makers when they’re needed most.
“This historic agreement,” he added, “demonstrates ICEYE’s evolution from a new space pioneer to a premier provider of mission-critical capabilities. By uniting rapid satellite production with advanced analytics, we are creating a new model for how nations secure strategic and tactical advantage from space.”
Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG, stated, “We are grateful for the great trust that the Bundeswehr has placed in us in the field of space technology. Modern armed forces depend on access to and control of space-based reconnaissance, communications, and mission control. As a provider of digital systems, we are working with our European partners to achieve this.”
SAR satellites project a powerful radar beam off the Earth’s surface from an orbit of 500-600 km. The beam returns to the satellite in a series of pulses, which are processed to build a detailed picture of the ground below. Because SAR technology uses radar to illuminate the Earth instead of sunlight, it can see through clouds, smoke, ash, rain and sandstorms to capture imagery day and night in any weather. This capability allows SAR satellites to collect images far more frequently than traditional optical systems, providing persistent coverage of fast-changing events. The technology also detects subtle changes invisible to the human eye, delivering up to 16 cm resolution.
