On 14 May 2025, Poland’s Ministry of National Defence signed a $227 million contract with a consortium led by ICEYE Polska and Wojskowe Zakłady Łączności No.1 (WZŁ-1) to acquire three synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites, with an option for three more. This forms part of the country’s MikroSAR programme, which aims to boost its independent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

“This is a great day for the Polish Armed Forces and Poland because they are gaining full independence in radar reconnaissance and imaging,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

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The deal comes amid heightened tensions in Eastern Europe due to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. As a NATO member on the alliance’s eastern flank, Poland invests in sovereign intelligence assets to ensure real-time situational awareness without relying on allied or commercial systems.

Poland’s Broader Defence Strategy and Industrial Autonomy

This satellite acquisition is part of a wider effort to modernise Poland’s military and reduce reliance on foreign intelligence. Lessons from the war in Ukraine, where delays in accessing satellite imagery occasionally hampered Ukrainian responses, have informed Poland’s move to develop its own ISR capabilities.

The partnership with ICEYE also strengthens Poland’s domestic defence sector. ICEYE Polska and WZŁ-1, supported by Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), are developing ground stations and mobile units to handle satellite operations entirely within national control.

Poland expects to launch its first SAR satellite in October 2025, contributing to national defence and to NATO’s collective surveillance architecture.

ICEYE’s Technology Enables Real-Time, All-Weather Monitoring

ICEYE’s SAR satellites use radar, rather than optical imaging, to capture high-resolution images in all weather and lighting conditions. Each satellite, weighing under 100 kilograms, offers a resolution of 25 centimetres, enabling detection of small military targets such as vehicles and fortifications. With 48 SAR satellites already in orbit, ICEYE operates the world’s largest SAR constellation.

These capabilities are particularly valuable for defence planning and targeting. Poland’s WZŁ-1 will develop a mobile ISR platform to rapidly receive, process, and analyse satellite data, enabling commanders to make faster, data-driven decisions in the field.