Poland Enters a New Era in Satellite Reconnaissance

Poland has been working for years on the development of its own satellite systems. The goal is to ensure intelligence independence and enhance the effectiveness of operational activities both in peacetime and during crises. As a result, military space programs have become one of the key pillars of the country’s defence strategy. It is therefore worth examining what has been achieved so far.

MikroGlob

One of the most important achievements in recent years is the acquisition of a satellite-based Earth observation system by the Polish Armed Forces under the MikroGlob program. The contract, signed on December 20, 2024, between the State Treasury’s Armament Agency and the Polish private satellite manufacturer Creotech Instruments S.A., provides for the delivery of four micro-class optoelectronic satellites.

The total value of the contract amounts to approximately PLN 556.7 million gross. The launch of the satellites and their insertion into low Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) is scheduled for completion by 2027. The satellites will be based on the HyperSat platform developed by Creotech. The optical instruments on board will enable the acquisition and transmission of Earth imagery data to the ground segment in spectral bands corresponding to near-infrared and visible light.

MikroSAR

Another key direction in building geospatial intelligence capabilities involves investment in satellites equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). Recently, the Polish Armed Forces have signed a contract to secure such capabilities.

On May 14 of this year, the Armament Agency signed a contract for the delivery of a Satellite Earth Observation System under the MikroSAR program. The technology will be provided by a consortium composed of ICEYE Polska and the Military Communication Works (WZŁ-1). ICEYE, acting as the lead partner, will be responsible for delivering the space segment, consisting of three satellites. WZŁ-1, as a consortium member, will deliver the ground segment, including a trailer-mounted satellite antenna.

The contract also includes an option to purchase an additional three satellites and a Mobile Ground Segment. The total value of the agreement amounts to PLN 860 million gross. The launch of the first satellite is scheduled for late 2025 (most likely in October), with subsequent launches planned for 2026.

It is worth highlighting that the acquisition of radar satellites capable of imaging at a resolution of 25 centimeters will significantly enhance the versatility and effectiveness of the Polish Armed Forces« reconnaissance system, enabling a more comprehensive picture of the operational environment.

PIAST Project

The Polish Armed Forces also have high hopes for the PIAST (Polish ImAging SaTellites) project. Its objective is to develop a constellation of three nanosatellites for optoelectronic image reconnaissance, also based on the proprietary HyperSat platform developed by Creotech Instruments.

The project is led by the Jarosław Dąbrowski Military University of Technology, with consortium partners including Creotech Instruments S.A., the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation, PCO S.A., the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and Scanway S.A.

It is worth noting that the PIAST project aims to leverage the potential of collaboration between research institutions and private enterprises in developing technologies crucial to national security and defence. The ultimate recipient of the project’s outcomes is the Ministry of National Defence.

According to available information, the project is scheduled for completion by February 2026. Its total value exceeds PLN 70 million, with over PLN 62 million in funding provided by the National Centre for Research and Development. Creotech Instruments S.A. is contributing approximately 5% of the project’s eligible costs.

Franco-Italian Support

In addition to investments in the domestic market, the Polish Armed Forces have also decided to take advantage of an offer from the French company Airbus Defence & Space. A contract signed in December 2022 covers the acquisition of two French optoelectronic satellites (Pleiades Neo), along with a dedicated ground receiving station. The total value of the agreement amounts to approximately EUR 575 million net (around PLN 2.7 billion).

The delivery of the two satellite platforms along with the ground segment is scheduled for 2027. At present, there are no plans to expand the contract to include additional platforms. Notably, under the agreement, the Polish Armed Forces have had access to the currently operational Pleiades Neo satellite constellation since 2023.

The satellites acquired by Poland will be capable of capturing imagery with a resolution of 30 centimeters. This constellation operates in low Earth orbit. Cooperation with Airbus Defence & Space is particularly valuable, as it also provides access to an archive of satellite imagery that dates back as far as 1986.

Before the agreement with France for the purchase of satellites was signed, Poland had already been utilizing data obtained from, among others, Italian radar satellites operating within the COSMO-SkyMed constellation (Constellation of Small Satellites for Mediterranean basin Observation) and its second-generation system.

Talks regarding Poland’s partnership in this program began in 2011. Three years later, an interministerial agreement was concluded, granting Poland unrestricted access to data provided by the satellites in the system. Under the terms of the Polish-Italian agreement, an Imagery Intelligence Center was established in Białobrzegi (Mazowieckie Voivodeship), operating under the command of the General Command of the Polish Armed Forces.

ARGUS Agency

In response to the growing capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces, the Ministry of National Defence decided to establish the Geospatial Intelligence and Satellite Services Agency (ARGUS). The agency was officially launched on June 27, 2024. Since then, ARGUS has been responsible for managing and operating the satellite systems being introduced into the Armed Forces« inventory, ensuring their protection and defence, as well as carrying out tasks related to space situational awareness.

Most recently, the ARGUS agency made its international debut during the Global Sentinel exercise, one of the key multinational military initiatives focused on space operations. The event, organized by the U.S. Space Command, brought together representatives from 29 countries as well as the NATO Space Operations Center.

CAMILA Program

Poland’s military space programs may benefit significantly from the support provided by a satellite constellation developed under the civilian CAMILA (Country Awareness Mission in Land Analysis) program. The initiative stems from an agreement signed in October 2023 between the Ministry of Development and Technology and the European Space Agency. It envisions the creation of a complete satellite system based primarily on Polish technologies.

Under the CAMILA project, the main contractor, Creotech Instruments, will be responsible for delivering a system comprising three Earth observation satellites and a ground segment to control the satellites and process the data they collect. The company will carry out the contract in collaboration with leading Polish space-sector firms, serving as subcontractors with extensive experience in working with ESA.

The total value of the CAMILA project amounts to nearly EUR 52 million, with almost EUR 26 million allocated to Creotech Instruments. The remaining funds will be distributed among subcontractors, including CloudFerro, Eycore, GMV Innovating Solutions, KP Labs, and Scanway. The project is scheduled to run from April 2025 through December 2027.

Summary

An analysis of the above developments reveals that Poland has recently allocated significant financial resources to the advancement of national reconnaissance capabilities. In the face of mounting geopolitical challenges and rapid technological progress, such investments are not only justified but essential to strengthening the country’s security. Until recently, Poland relied primarily on cooperation with its allies. That situation, however, is now changing.

Poland is increasingly building its capabilities on technologies developed by its own engineers and companies, thereby laying the foundation for technological independence. In this case, in the domain of satellite Earth observation. In the coming years, Poland could emerge as one of Europe’s key players in the field of independent satellite reconnaissance, which is a vital component of national defence potential.

Against the backdrop of rising tensions on NATO’s eastern flank, the presence of Russian forces in Belarus, and the ongoing war in Ukraine, satellite capabilities take on exceptional importance. They serve not only as tools for intelligence gathering but also as instruments of deterrence.

Author: Mateusz Mitkow, Space24

Polish Source: https://space24.pl/satelity/obserwacja-ziemi/nowa-era-zdolnosci-rozpoznawczych-polski-analiza