Eycore, a Polish space defense startup specializing in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technologies, has announced an expanded strategic partnership with Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) aimed at delivering sovereign Earth observation capabilities for defense and governmental customers.
According to a joint statement released on July 31, the two companies have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen their cooperation in the development and deployment of SAR satellite systems, responding to growing European demand for secure, independent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) tools.
The expanded collaboration builds on a relationship that began in 2022 during Eycore’s In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) mission. As part of that program, Kongsberg NanoAvionics (KNA), a KDA subsidiary, is providing the satellite bus platform for Eycore’s first SAR satellite. The spacecraft is scheduled to launch into low Earth orbit in February 2026.
The new agreement signals a joint commitment to scalable, mission-ready ISR solutions tailored for modern defense environments. Under the MoU, Eycore will focus on delivering SAR satellite payloads across multiple radar bands, while KDA will serve as the system design authority—contributing full-spectrum capabilities across satellite integration, ground control infrastructure, mission operations, and lifecycle support.
“This partnership reinforces KDA’s commitment to advancing sovereign Earth Observation capabilities across Europe,” said Jarle Naess, Vice President of Business Development Missiles & Space at KDA. “By combining our experience in delivering integrated defense and space systems with Eycore’s radar innovation, we are creating scalable, mission-ready solutions tailored to the evolving needs of defense users.”
Dr. Maciej Klemm, co-founder and CEO of Eycore, emphasized the importance of secure access to satellite data.
“Our mission is to ensure trusted, sovereign access to Earth Observation data for defence users, underpinned by our decades of radar expertise and focus on operational resilience,” Klemm said in a statement.
Eycore’s founders—Dr. Klemm and Dr. Radosław Piesiewicz—also co-founded Advanced Protection Systems (APS), a leading Polish firm in anti-drone and ground-based radar technologies. That radar legacy is being applied to Eycore’s satellite work, supporting the creation of flexible architectures able to meet national ISR requirements.
The upcoming launch of Eycore’s first SAR satellite marks the first step in what the companies describe as a long-term partnership, aimed at providing European and allied governments with trusted access to high-performance space-based radar systems.