Poland has signed a contract with local firm Creotech Instruments to procure a satellite earth observation system.
The agreement, worth 550 million Polish zloty ($134 million), provides the Polish Armed Forces with four microsatellites built on Creotech’s HyperSat platform.
The satellites will feature optical instruments capable of capturing and transmitting Earth imaging data in near-infrared and visible light bands.
The systems are planned for launch and expected to reach a low sun-synchronous orbit by 2027.
“This is the largest satellite procurement ever awarded to a Polish company,” stated Deputy Director of Space Products at Creotech Jakub Bochinski.
The acquisition is “a game changer for the Polish space industry and a significant step in strengthening national technological sovereignty,” he added.
Poland’s Boost in Space Defense
In recent years, Poland has been investing to boost its space defense sector.
In June, Warsaw began operations at its newly-established Geospatial Reconnaissance and Satellite Services Agency.
The agency will oversee the management and control of satellite systems integrated into the armed forces and carry out tasks related to space situational awareness.
“The creation of the Geospatial Reconnaissance and Satellite Services Agency is the beginning of a new stage in the use of space by the Polish Armed Forces,” stated the Polish Defense Ministry.
In March, Poland unveiled a plan to launch its first military observation satellites in 2025, aiming to enhance national security amidst growing regional tensions.
Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk highlighted that the satellite will combine foreign and domestic components to fulfill the military’s needs.
Earlier in 2023, Poland secured an agreement with Airbus to deliver two military reconnaissance satellites, slated for launch in 2027.
