A Finnish-based satellite operator will provide imagery data to NATO headquarters in Brussels, the company has said.
According to foreign media, privately owned ICEYE has grown rapidly in recent years and currently has a fleet of 48 Synthetic Aperture Radar satellites in orbit to observe the Earth, providing near-real-time imagery. Its customers include Ukraine, but also other military groups.
Its satellite constellation operates via a radar beam from the Earth's surface, from approximately 550 km (342 miles) into space, to create a picture of what is happening on the ground.
The announcement of the cooperation with NATO comes at a time when Europe is trying to increase its autonomy in space-based monitoring and communications, with the European Commission pushing forward delayed plans for a €10.6bn (£8.9bn) secure European satellite constellation.
Officials say the rapid expansion of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite constellation has fueled efforts to support Europe's so-called "digital sovereignty."
While ICEYE satellites provide Earth observation, Starlink satellites provide global internet coverage and enable communication, writes A2 CNN.
"We are proud of the opportunity to collaborate and support NATO users and decision-makers with data from the world's largest SAR satellite constellation, owned and operated by ICEYE," said ICEYE chief strategy officer and co-founder Pekka Laurila in a statement.
"What the world has learned by observing the conflict in Ukraine is that the future security of nations will depend massively on satellite constellations," added ICEYE CEO Rafal Modrzewski.
(A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
