The two satellites, built by ICEYE, had established contact and were undergoing routine calibration.
“Important day for the Polish Armed Forces, another strengthening of Poland’s reconnaissance capabilities,” the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces said on X.
The mission lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 119 payloads, including the two satellites for Poland under the MikroSAR program.
“And they’re off! Two more Polish satellites are heading into orbit! At the beginning of 2025 we did not have a single one — by the end of 2026 we will have as many as 9! This is a real change!” Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk wrote on X.
The two satellites are identical to the first ICEYE satellite for Poland’s military, which was placed in orbit on Nov. 28 last year.
ICEYE Chief Executive and co-founder Rafal Modrzewski said the company had now delivered the full three-satellite system covered by its contract with Poland’s defense ministry.
“Now, just 10 months after signing the contract, we have delivered the entire three-satellite system [...] We are currently focused on training Polish operators and handing over the system to the Polish Armed Forces,” Modrzewski said in a company statement.
He added that ICEYE was ready to move quickly on options in the contract that would allow further expansion of the POLSARIS constellation and strengthen Poland’s reconnaissance capabilities.
The MikroSAR program is part of the development of POLSARIS, Poland’s first radar satellite constellation, designed to provide Earth imaging regardless of weather or time of day.
According to ICEYE, the satellites use synthetic aperture radar, or SAR, technology, allowing them to operate day and night, with microwave signals able to penetrate clouds, smoke and fog.
“Depending on operational needs, it is possible to move quickly from a general overview of large areas to a very detailed analysis of a specific location. This gives the Polish Armed Forces great flexibility in conducting reconnaissance”, the company said.
In May 2025, ICEYE signed a contract with Poland’s defense ministry to deliver three radar satellites, with an option for three more within 12 months.
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Source: PAP, RMF24