Greece Launches First National Radar Satellites to Boost Disaster Monitoring and Security

Greece has taken a major step forward in national Earth observation capabilities with the launch of two high-resolution radar satellites, the first operational spacecraft of its National Small Satellite Programme. The satellites were lifted into orbit on 28 November 2025 aboard a SpaceX Transporter-15 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, in a collaboration involving the Greek government, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the private aerospace company ICEYE.

These new synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites — each weighing approximately 120 kilograms and equipped with **X-band radar instruments capable of day-and-night imaging — are designed to provide up to 25-centimetre resolution data under all weather conditions. This means they can observe the Earth’s surface regardless of cloud cover or lighting, a critical advantage for real-time emergency response and continuous monitoring.

Greece’s National Small Satellite Programme ultimately envisages a constellation of 13 satellites grouped into multiple sensor classes — radar, optical and thermal-infrared — to support a wide range of applications including flood and wildfire monitoring, landslide tracking, environmental change detection, and maritime domain awareness.

The acquisition was financed through the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility, reinforcing not only Greece’s technological infrastructure but also its alignment with broader European Earth observation goals. ESA’s involvement ensures integration with pan-European data sharing frameworks, facilitating cooperation on disaster preparedness and sustainable development initiatives among member states.

ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes highlighted that this project illustrates the agency’s commitment to helping national space programmes complement and benefit from shared European Earth observation systems. The technology transfer and operational experience gained through the initiative are expected to support Greek industry and research ecosystems and drive innovation in the domestic space sector.

In the coming year, Greece plans to expand its constellation with additional satellites, including thermal-infrared sensors to detect heat signatures such as wildfires and seven optical satellites for detailed terrain and environmental imaging under the programme roadmap

Experts note that as climate-related risks such as floods, droughts and wildfires become more frequent, national access to SAR imagery provides a strategic advantage for authorities in both emergency response and long-term planning, while also contributing to shared European efforts in disaster risk reduction and environmental monitoring.

Greece’s new radar satellites signify not only technological progress but also deeper integration into European space-based observation systems that increasingly inform policy decisions on climate resilience, civil protection and security planning.