Maritime awareness is the aim of a new pact linking German defense group Rheinmetall with Norwegian satellite operator Space Norway. The memorandum of understanding, announced Aug. 17, commits the pair to joint work on space-based technologies for military customers.
The pact covers satellite communications, sensors and mission systems, plus tying space services into higher-level military command and information networks. The two companies say it gives Germany’s armed forces a framework for joint projects, with allied nations expected to follow.
The centerpiece is radar. Germany already fields an X-band synthetic aperture radar capability under the SPOCK 1 program, delivered by Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions from the company’s Neuss plant. Space Norway brings a C-band SAR system. X-band resolves individual targets in fine detail, while C-band paints broad maritime regions, and the partners argue the two bands fit together for wide-area sea surveillance.
Rheinmetall’s digital systems chief, Timo Haas, called the agreement a milestone for combining complementary space capabilities, pointing to reconnaissance, maritime surveillance and infrastructure work. Space Norway chief executive Morten Tengs said the two sides see particular potential in large-area maritime surveillance and sovereign capabilities around it.
The deal builds on earlier cooperation between the firms and extends a broader European push to use satellites for tracking shipping and naval movements.
