A SpaceX rocket was successfully launched on Sunday from the Vandenberg space base in California, USA. It carried 45 payloads to Earth's orbit, including two from Poland: a Polish Armed Forces MikroSAR reconnaissance satellite from the Polish-Finnish company ICEYE, and EYCORE-1 - a new Polish space company's satellite also equipped with a proprietary synthetic aperture radar.
"We are gradually building up our POLSARIS military radar constellation, thanks to which the Polish Army gains new Earth imaging capabilities regardless of the time of day or night and weather conditions. This gives us access to key data in situations that require immediate action, and this is real support for operational forces and the entire national security system"
- Poland's Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, wrote on X.
Both ICEYE and EYCORE-1 satellites are equipped with proprietary synthetic aperture (SAR) radars. This technology allows them to "see" day and night, and its microwave waves penetrate clouds, smoke, and fog.
"Weather resistance and the ability to provide 24/7 imaging make SAR an ideal tool for military applications and crisis management" - ICEYE pointed out in their announcement.
The first ICEYE satellite for the Polish Armed Forces was launched into orbit in November 2025, and two more followed in March of this year. As Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasised - all tests were successful, and the company will soon hand over the fully operational system to Poland's military command.
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Source: IAR, PAP, PolskieRadio24