Sweden allocates USD142 million for space capabilities, includes 10 new satellites

A still from a video showing SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch on 16 August 2024, with Sweden's Gna-3 satellite onboard. (SpaceX)

Sweden's Ministry of Defence (MoD) is increasing its space-based surveillance and reconnaissance capability with at least 10 new sovereign satellites, according to a 12 January MoD press release.

The Swedish government has allocated about SEK1.3 billion (USD141.8 million) for space-based capabilities including the procurement of the 10 new satellites, according to the release.

The acquisition is an additional spend to the SEK1 billion that was approved by the government in October 2024 for the development of Sweden's space-based defence capability by 2032.

The first few new satellites will be delivered in 2026 and continue until 2028, according to the release.

“Thanks to this addition we will see and operate at longer distances and get an even better situational picture of how Russia and other actors are behaving,” Chief of Space Command Admiral Anders Sundeman, Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten), said in a service press release on 12 January.

The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (Försvarets materielverk: FMV) signed agreements with US-based Planet Labs and Finnish company Iceye for the delivery of the new satellites, data, and software. The multi-year nine-figure agreement with Planet Labs will deliver a suite of satellites and high-resolution data and intelligence, according to the company's release.

Iceye will deliver an undisclosed number of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites, data, and software as well as ground and technical systems for establishing sovereign space-based surveillance capability as part of a multi-year agreement, according to Iceye's press release.