The Espoo-based space technology company Iceye has signed a deal to sell reconnaissance and surveillance satellites to the Swedish Armed Forces.
The company is to supply Sweden with software and radar satellite technology that enables its defence forces to monitor the environment in all weather conditions and to track movements by adversaries.
Iceye is the global market leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites, the company's sales VP, Damon Olloman, told Yle late last year.
According to the company, the system's imaging and observation ability, especially through cold, foggy, snowy conditions, is a crucial feature for Nordic customers.
"Iceye is proud to partner with the Swedish Armed Forces and deliver sovereign space-based ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] capabilities that work in all weather and lighting conditions of Northern Europe and the Arctic," Seppo Aaltonen, Vice President Nordics & Nato, said in a statement.
"We especially welcome cooperation with Sweden and our closest Nordic Nato allies to enhance the security and resilience of the North-Eastern Flank of Nato," he added.
The parties to the deal have not revealed the purchase price. In a press release, Iceye refers to it as a multi-year, multi-million-euro project.
According to the Swedish Armed Forces, the first dozen or so SAR satellites will be delivered to them this year.
Finland also purchased a similar, but smaller, satellite system from Iceye last autumn with a price tag of 158 million euros. Finland plans to cooperate on space projects with Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland and possibly others.
According to a statement from the Finnish Defence Forces, the second of Finland's three satellites was launched into space this past Sunday.
