Polish PM Tusk: Poland to develop domestic Starlink-like satellite system with ICEYE and PGZ
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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on September 9 at the MSPO defense show in Kielce that Poland will develop a domestic satellite communications system similar to SpaceX's Starlink. The project follows a letter of intent signed between Finnish space company ICEYE and Polish state-run defense group PGZ to jointly develop a military satellite communications system. Tusk stated that the culmination of the process will be a 'Polish Starlink,' emphasizing the critical importance of communications on the modern battlefield, citing lessons from the Russian-Ukrainian war. PGZ said the program is to be implemented from 2026 to 2030. The cooperation builds on the existing MikroSAR program, under which ICEYE has delivered synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites to Poland's military. ICEYE will act as the technology partner, responsible for satellite system architecture, platform design and manufacturing, and satellite operations, while PGZ will organize the domestic industrial base. The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has fueled Poland's efforts to ramp up its reconnaissance and communications capabilities.
Source report
WARSAW, Poland — Finnish space company ICEYE and Poland's state-run defense conglomerate PGZ have signed a letter of intent to jointly develop a military satellite communications system, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced.
Tusk stated that the project will pave the way for the launch of a Starlink-like system for the nation.
"The culmination of the process that began today can and will be a Polish Starlink," Tusk said on Sept. 9 at the MSPO defense show in Kielce, referring to SpaceX's satellite network. "Anyone closely following the Russian-Ukrainian war knows how important communications are. It is absolutely critical. Without communications, you have nothing to look for on the modern battlefield."
According to a PGZ statement, the program is scheduled for implementation from 2026 to 2030.
Existing Cooperation
ICEYE has an ongoing partnership with PGZ on an Earth observation system for the Polish Armed Forces. The Finnish company has delivered synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites to Poland's military under the MikroSAR program. This system is designed as the first component of the military space capabilities toolkit that Warsaw plans to develop in the coming years. The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has accelerated Poland's efforts to enhance its reconnaissance capabilities.
Program Details
PGZ stated that the cooperation will draw on experience gained through the MikroSAR program and will include:
- Development of a space segment based on a distributed architecture
- Development of domestic ground infrastructure
- Establishment of industrial capabilities enabling independent development and maintenance of the system in Poland
Partner Roles
ICEYE said in a statement that the collaboration will be based on the partners' complementary roles:
- ICEYE will act as the technology partner, responsible for developing the satellite system architecture, designing and manufacturing the space platforms, and conducting satellite operations.
- PGZ will contribute its industrial and organizational capabilities, organizing the program's domestic industrial base by identifying group companies that will contribute production capabilities, expertise, and technical infrastructure.
Jaroslaw Adamowski is the Poland correspondent for Defense News.
Source
C4ISRNetWestern