The satellites operate under SPOCK 1, the first phase of a national radar reconnaissance system designed for continuous, all-weather surveillance. Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions operates the spacecraft and is expanding the constellation.
The dedicated satellites supplement reconnaissance capabilities already available to the Bundeswehr through other spacecraft. SPOCK 1 stands for “SAR Space System for Persistent Operational Tracking, Stage 1”.
“Less than a year after the contract was signed, the German Armed Forces are gaining direct access to a dedicated SAR reconnaissance capability,” said Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger. “The successful start of production in Neuss demonstrates that we not only provide innovative space technology, but can also scale it up industrially in Germany.”
Satellite production begins in Neuss
Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions has also begun manufacturing synthetic aperture radar satellites at its Neuss site. The facility combines production, integration, testing and quality assurance, taking the programme from planning and development into industrial production.
The company aims to build and certify several dozen satellites for launch each year. Specialists in manufacturing, engineering and quality management oversee the process.
“Every SPOCK 1 satellite carries the lessons of years of ICEYE operating the world’s largest SAR constellation for government customers,” said Rafal Modrzewski, ICEYE’s CEO and co-founder.
“That track record combined with Rheinmetall’s industrial scale is why Germany could move from contract to capability this fast.”
“Our job now is to hold that pace as the system grows,” Modrzewski said. Rheinmetall said the German manufacturing capacity would strengthen Europe’s technological and industrial base for space-based reconnaissance.
