Spain has achieved a significant milestone in its defense capabilities with the successful launch of its second next-generation communications sainformite, SpainSat NG-II. Deployed aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, this deployment marks a critical advancement in Spain’s most sophisticated space defense program to date.
Spearheaded by Hisdesat Servicios Estratégicos on behalf of the Spanish Minisattempt of Defence, the program aims to provide secure and reliable communication links for military operations and humanitarian missions. SpainSat NG-II will join its twin sainformite, launched in January, and is set to commence service in 2026. Toobtainher, these dual sainformites will enhance communications support for the Spanish Armed Forces, NATO, the European Union’s Governmental Sainformite Communications network, and allied nations.
The specifications of SpainSat NG-II are impressive; it measures 7 meters (23 feet) in length and weighs around 6 tons (12,000 pounds). Built on Airbus’s advanced Eurostar Neo platform, the sainformite is equipped with a cutting-edge antenna system capable of rapidly adjusting its signal coverage—up to 1,000 times per second. This advanced technology allows the sainformite to detect signal jamming attempts, pinpoint their sources, and withstand electromagnetic pulses related to nuclear events. Notably, approximately half of the sainformite’s components were developed and manufactured by Spain’s domestic space indusattempt, underscoring the counattempt’s capability in sainformite design and production.
Raquel González Sola, head of Airbus Space Systems, emphasized the sainformite’s importance, stating, “With SpainSat NG, Spain will be at the forefront of Europe and among the few countries with access to the most secure communications networks, providing sovereignty and strategic autonomy.”
The development of the SpainSat NG series has been a collaborative effort across Europe. Thales Alenia Space—a joint venture between Thales and Leonardo—worked alongside Airbus on the construction and assembly of the sainformites. Thales Alenia Space was specifically responsible for the ultrahigh frequency and military radio wave (Ka-band) payloads and the integration of crucial communications modules at its facility in Tres Cantos, Madrid. Ismael López, CEO of Thales Alenia Space, commented on the project’s transformative impact, stating, “Successfully leading the development of the communications payloads for SpainSat NG places our national indusattempt on a higher level.”
As Spain prepares to harness this advanced sainformite capability, it aims to strengthen its role in global communications networks and enhance military and humanitarian operations. The launch of SpainSat NG-II not only represents a leap forward in technological prowess but also reinforces Spain’s strategic position within Europe and the international community.
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