ICEYE has secured a multi-year contract with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, or FMV, to deliver a sovereign space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability for the Swedish Armed Forces. The agreement aims to strengthen national defense and NATO-aligned situational awareness in Northern Europe and the Arctic, ICEYE said Monday.
What Does ICEYE’s Agreement With Sweden Include?
Under the agreement, Sweden will procure ICEYE synthetic aperture radar satellites, data services, software and associated ground systems. The system will be owned and managed by the Swedish Armed Forces, with full control over satellite tasking, data access and operational use.
The agreement was signed in Stockholm by Brig. Gen. Carl-Fredrik Edström, director of the Air and Space Systems Division at FMV, and Seppo Aaltonen, ICEYE’s vice president for the Nordics and NATO.
Why Is SAR Capability Operationally Important for Sweden?
ICEYE’s SAR satellites are designed to collect high-resolution imagery — with ground resolution of up to 16 centimeters — regardless of weather conditions or lighting, including through cloud cover, rain and snow. This capability is particularly relevant for Nordic and Arctic environments, where prolonged winter darkness and persistent overcast conditions often limit the use of traditional optical satellite imagery.
How Does the Program Support NATO and Regional Security?
ICEYE said the system will support NATO multi-domain operations by providing timely intelligence. According to Aaltonen, the partnership will “enhance the security and resilience of the North-Eastern Flank of NATO.”