The cooperation between Rheinmetall and the search and rescue satellite system manufacturer ICEYE, which was announced in September 2024, is already bearing fruit, the press service of Rheinmetall reported on Monday.

"To meet Ukraine‘s urgent demands for SAR satellite reconnaissance capabilities, Rheinmetall and Ukraine, supported by the German government, signed a contract. The agreement further increases the SAR data and other support Ukraine has been receiving from ICEYE during the war," the press release notes.

It is noted that since the beginning of October 2024, Ukraine has been receiving new satellite images taken by ICEYE's SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellites as part of the cooperation between Rheinmetall and ICEYE. This provision will complement further intelligence data obtained by other sensors and provide the basis for decision-making and operational planning by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The cooperation includes dedicated satellite capacity and allows the use of the capacity of the entire ICEYE satellite fleet. Since 2018, ICEYE has launched 38 satellites for use by ICEYE and its customers.

"SAR satellites offer the advantage over conventional satellites that they can generate high-resolution images regardless of weather conditions or time of day. These are very detailed and make even the smallest objects on the earth's surface identifiable. This can bring decisive advantages for the armed forces in terms of surveillance, target acquisition, reconnaissance or their own positioning on the battlefield," the press release notes.

The company recalled that ICEYE has been working closely with the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine to support and help Ukraine in building space defence capabilities. In August 2022 ICEYE announced a contract with the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation to provide the Government of Ukraine with ICEYE’s SAR satellite imaging capabilities with one of ICEYE’s SAR satellites designated for the Government of Ukraine’s use over the region. ICEYE also provides access to its constellation of SAR satellites, allowing the Ukrainian Armed Forces to receive radar satellite imagery on critical locations. In July 2024, ICEYE and the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine signed a Memorandum of Cooperation outlining partnering to strengthen Ukraine’s space defence capabilities.