Rheinmetall starts series production of reconnaissance satellites

Dusseldorf. The defense company Rheinmetall has started series production of space satellites. After preparatory work including planning and construction, industrial implementation in Neuss began, the company said. It's about SAR satellites, which are manufactured by a joint venture with the Finnish satellite operator Iceye. The “Synthetic Aperture Radar” technology provides precise images of enemy troop movements and positions even at night and in bad weather.

Around 50 satellites are to be manufactured in Neuss every year. At the beginning of 2027, the first Neuss satellite is to be brought into orbit using a SpaceX launch vehicle and begin its orbit there. The recordings are sold to the Bundeswehr and other armies. Rheinmetall and Iceye have a multi-year contract with the Bundeswehr worth 1.7 billion euros. It has now been announced that the Bundeswehr has secured exclusive access to an undisclosed number of SAR satellites in order to obtain images as quickly as possible.

With the satellites, Rheinmetall is further expanding its product portfolio; in addition to the classic business with artillery, tanks and ammunition, the weapons manufacturer now also sells ships and aircraft components. The drone business is also being expanded.

From an expert perspective, SAR technology is now essential for a powerful modern army. “In a glass battlefield, you have to keep an eye on the enemy as constantly and precisely as possible, also in order to find out about movements of troops and heavy equipment as quickly as possible,” says Juliana Süß from the Science and Politics Foundation (SWP). She points out that the Ukrainian army also uses images from Iceye satellites, of which there are currently 35 in space.

The radar images are intended to help provide an accurate picture of the situation, particularly on NATO's eastern flank. This means they also support the Bundeswehr brigade in Lithuania. Competitors in the satellite business are Airbus Defense and Space and the Bremen company OHB.