Rheinmetall and ICEYE to Provide Ukraine with Enhanced Satellite Imaging for Intelligence Support

In a strategic advancement for Ukraine’s satellite intelligence capabilities, Rheinmetall , in collaboration with ICEYE  and with support from the German government, has signed an agreement to supply Ukraine with additional satellite reconnaissance services.

This partnership allows Ukraine increased access to data from ICEYE’s synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellites, improving its remote sensing abilities for defense applications, according to a Rheinmetall press release.

This contract builds on a strengthened collaboration between Rheinmetall and ICEYE, announced in September 2024, which grants Rheinmetall exclusive rights to supply ICEYE’s SAR satellites to military and government clients in Germany and Hungary.

Through this partnership, Ukraine began receiving enhanced satellite imaging services as of October 2024. The agreement provides Ukraine with dedicated satellite operation time and access to ICEYE’s entire satellite constellation, enabling broader data acquisition across the region.

Since its inception in 2018, ICEYE has launched 38 SAR satellites. Unlike traditional optical satellites, SAR technology enables high-resolution imaging regardless of weather conditions or time of day, making it a valuable tool for monitoring strategic locations.

Ukraine-ICEYE cooperation

Ukraine’s collaboration with ICEYE dates back to August 2022, when the Ukrainian charitable foundation purchased an ICEYE satellite using donations totaling UAH 600 million and secured access to the full ICEYE constellation for one year.

As of June 2024, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (HUR) reported that the ICEYE satellite had captured 4,173 images of Russian military targets, including:

• 370 airfields,

• 238 air defense and signals intelligence positions,

• 153 fuel depots,

• 147 ammunition storage sites,

• 17 naval bases.

Approximately 38% of these images directly supported Ukraine’s targeting operations.

In July 2024, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and ICEYE formalized a memorandum on Earth observation collaboration, wherein ICEYE committed to uninterrupted delivery of satellite images to Ukrainian agencies to enhance national security. Known as the “people’s satellite,” ICEYE received crowdfunding support for its mission.

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