German defense giant Rheinmetall launches satellite production
German defense concern Rheinmetall and Finnish manufacturer of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites ICEYE have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint venture Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions, the Rheinmetall press service reported.
Rheinmetall will own 60% of the new venture and ICEYE will own 40%. The project still requires final agreements and regulatory approvals.
Production is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2026 and will take place in the West German city of Neuse, near Düsseldorf.
The German-Finnish company will primarily produce SAR satellites that provide high-resolution images regardless of the weather or time of day.
"With this step, we are strengthening our position in the space sector and responding to the growing demand for satellite intelligence from armies and security services around the world," said Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger.
In turn, ICEYE CEO Rafal Modrzewski noted that the company wants to become the main supplier of satellite intelligence for allied countries and strengthen Europe's sovereign defense capabilities.
The company has offices in Finland, Poland, Spain, the UK, Australia, Japan, the UAE, Greece and the USA, and employs over 700 people.
Rheinmetall and ICEYE have been working together for several years. In 2024, Rheinmetall received exclusive rights to sell SAR satellites to military and government users in Germany and Hungary.
In November 2024, the companies also signed a contract to supply satellite intelligence to Ukraine with the support of the German government.
- The capacity of the Rheinmetall plant in Ukraine, which is scheduled to be completed in 2026, will significantly exceed the planned 150,000 shells per year.
- Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin are teaming up to produce missiles in Germany.
