Iceye CEO Rafal Modrzewski and IHI President and CEO Hiroshi Ide. Photo: Iceye
Japanese aerospace and defense company IHI Corporation has signed a procurement contract with Iceye to build four satellites and up to 20 additional satellites in a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) constellation.
The deal announced Thursday includes assembly in Japan. Two of the initial four satellites are planned to be assembled and tested in Japan, and the companies said preparations are already underway. The first satellites are expected to be in orbit and delivering data around April of 2026. If the demonstrations are successful, IHI plans to exercise options for the remaining 20 satellites in phases from fiscal year 2026, targeting completion of the 24-satellite constellation by fiscal year 2029.
This comes after earlier this year, the companies signed an MoU to jointly develop the constellation and establish domestic production facilities in Japan. Iceye and Space42 recently assembled three SAR satellites in the United Arab Emirates under a similar agreement.
IHI President and CEO Hiroshi Ide said it represents an investment in IHI’s future. “Through the development of an Earth observation satellite constellation, we aim to address not only national and economic security but also a wide range of societal challenges. By harnessing the full strength of the IHI Group’s manufacturing capabilities, we will lead the construction of essential infrastructure that will be indispensable for the society of the future,” Ide commented.
AloJapan.com