Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions' SPOCK-1 is a ~40-satellite SAR reconnaissance constellation for the German Bundeswehr under a €1.7 billion contract: 500–600 km LEO, up to 16 cm resolution, all-weather day/night imaging, production starting Q3 2026.
SPOCK-1 SAR Reconnaissance Satellite Constellation
Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions' SPOCK-1 is a ~40-satellite SAR reconnaissance constellation for the German Bundeswehr under a €1.7 billion contract: 500–600 km LEO, up to 16 cm resolution, all-weather day/night imaging, production starting Q3 2026.
Description
SPOCK-1 (SAR-Spacesystem for Persistent Operational traCKing Stufe 1) is a synthetic aperture radar reconnaissance satellite constellation being developed by Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions GmbH, a joint venture between Rheinmetall AG (60%) and ICEYE Oy (40%) headquartered in Neuss, Germany. Commissioned by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) under a €1.7 billion contract running from late 2025 through the end of 2030 with extension options, SPOCK-1 will provide the German Armed Forces with exclusive access to space-based SAR reconnaissance data. The planned constellation comprises approximately 40 small SAR satellites operating in low Earth orbit at 500–600 km altitude, delivering continuous, high-revisit, all-weather, day-and-night imaging with resolution as fine as 16 cm — leveraging ICEYE's proven SAR satellite technology and manufacturing know-how combined with Rheinmetall's defense-systems integration and German sovereign production capability. Because SAR uses active radar rather than reflected sunlight, the constellation can image through cloud cover, darkness, and adverse weather conditions that defeat optical reconnaissance satellites. Satellite production is scheduled to begin in Q3 2026 at the joint venture's Neuss facility, with the primary initial operational focus on protecting the Bundeswehr's Lithuania Brigade and securing NATO's eastern flank. The service model includes full constellation operations, ground station management, and AI-driven image evaluation delivered as an end-to-end reconnaissance data service to German military customers.
Specifications
| Constellation size | ~40 SAR satellites (planned) |
|---|---|
| Orbit | LEO, 500–600 km altitude |
| Imaging resolution | Up to 16 cm |
| Sensor type | Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) — all-weather, day/night |
| Contract value | €1.7 billion (gross, with extension options) |
| Contract duration | Late 2025 – end of 2030 |
| Joint venture | Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions GmbH (Rheinmetall 60% / ICEYE 40%), Neuss, Germany |
| Production start | Q3 2026, Neuss facility |
| Customer | German Bundeswehr / BAAINBw |
| Service scope | Constellation operations, ground station management, AI-driven image evaluation |
| Primary mission focus | Protection of Bundeswehr Lithuania Brigade, NATO eastern flank surveillance |