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Japan to Share SAR Satellite-Based Data With Ukraine for the First Time

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Amira Barkhush
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Japan to Share SAR Satellite-Based Data With Ukraine for the First Time
Maxar satellite imagery of a convoy of Russian troops in southern Ivankiv, Ukraine, headed towards the Ukranian Capital of Kyiv. (Source: Maxar Technologies/Getty Images)

Japan has agreed to provide Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) with satellite-based geospatial data, including radar imagery from SAR  satellites, marking the first cooperation of this kind in Japan’s history, Intelligence Online reported on April 21.

The data will come from the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS), affiliated with Kyushu University.

Under the agreement signed with Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate, iQPS systems will be integrated into Ukrainian intelligence platforms. The SAR data, radar-generated images, will support surveillance and reconnaissance efforts. iQPS currently operates five satellites, with more launches planned by the end of 2026.

According to DeepState, Ukraine already has access to SAR satellite imagery from Finland (Iceye), Germany (SAR-Lupe and SARah) and Italy (Cosmo-SkyMed 1 and 2).

Intelligence Online added that despite having access to Pléiades Neo satellites operated by Airbus and extended imaging rights on France’s CSO-range satellites, Ukraine still lacks the level of support previously provided by the United States, either directly or through commercial imagery from Maxar and BlackSky, secured via contracts with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

The outlet noted that no European operator currently offers optical satellite imagery comparable to that of the US or commercial providers in terms of daily coverage or access to real-time streaming capabilities.

Ukraine and Czechia are launching a satellite constellation for optical reconnaissance, named “Suziria.”

On March 20, the editor-in-chief of the Czech publication Armádní Noviny announced that Ukraine and Czechia are launching a satellite constellation for optical reconnaissance, named “Suziria.”

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