Helsing, Kongsberg, Hensoldt & Isar Aerospace partners to strengthen EU’s sovereign intelligence and communications capabilities
Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and Germany’s Helsing have formed a strategic partnership to build a sovereign European space-based intelligence and communications constellation, aiming to start launching small satellites in about three years. Using the launch site of German start-up Isar Aerospace in Andøya, Norway, and sensors from Hensoldt, they plan a “substantial” low Earth orbit constellation for ISR, satcom and space situational awareness.
Kongsberg brings satellite manufacturing, operations and KSAT’s ground network, while Helsing contributes AI-driven software to fuse SAR, electro-optical and RF data directly on board for faster analysis and targeting. Production facilities are expected in Germany, with the goal of giving Europe more independent, resilient sensing and intelligence capabilities; financial details and customers have not been disclosed.
