Space Norway and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) are collaborating on a new radar satellite designed to significantly enhance maritime domain awareness in the North Atlantic region. This initiative will improve the monitoring of critical areas, including energy infrastructure, fishing grounds, and underwater cables, which currently lack comprehensive oversight.
The approximately 400-kilogram satellite is scheduled for a SpaceX rideshare launch in early 2027. SSTL is responsible for the satellite's construction, while Space Norway is providing the advanced payload and operational control. The satellite will be equipped with a C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR), capable of penetrating cloud cover and operating day or night to deliver high-resolution imagery. This technology is crucial for tracking vessels and correlating data with the satellite's onboard Automatic Identification System (AIS) sensor.
The C-band SAR technology is particularly suited for maritime surveillance, supporting applications such as ship traffic monitoring, combating illegal fishing, and oil spill detection. The Norwegian Armed Forces will be the primary client for this new satellite, with potential for other clients to utilize its capabilities globally. This project is the first in a planned constellation of six satellites aimed at providing frequent monitoring of the North Atlantic.
This strategic partnership builds on Space Norway's recent acquisition of Telenor Satellite, which has strengthened its satellite communications and service offerings. It also follows Space Norway's involvement in the successful Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM), which launched two satellites in August 2024 to provide critical broadband coverage in the Arctic. The development of the MicroSAR system, as this satellite series is known, is optimized for detecting smaller vessels across vast areas, surpassing current systems.
Unlike AIS, which relies on voluntary vessel participation, radar satellites like MicroSAR can detect vessels regardless of whether they are transmitting AIS data. This addresses the estimated 5% of vessels that may not be transmitting or are falsifying their information. This collaboration represents a forward-thinking approach to enhancing security and awareness in vital maritime zones, reinforcing Norway's strategic interests in the Arctic and High North.