IHI Commences Data Acquisition for Satellite Constellation Project

IHI has commenced operations and data acquisition for the first two Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites under a procurement contract with Finland-based ICEYE Oy, a global leader in sovereign space intelligence. The company is currently in concrete discussions with domestic and international government agencies and private enterprises regarding the provision of satellite data. This marks a significant milestone toward the satellite constellation IHI aims to build. The initiative is intended to autonomously secure essential space infrastructure for Japan and provide high-quality intelligence to Japan, its allies, and like-minded nations. Amid rising geopolitical tensions, there is an increasing demand for persistent maritime surveillance and intelligence capabilities capable of gathering and analyzing information under any conditions. The SAR satellites now providing data to IHI can capture high-resolution imagery regardless of time of day or weather, playing a critical role in security fields such as maritime surveillance and the protection of vital supply chains. In October 2025, IHI signed a contract with ICEYE to procure SAR satellites for a constellation of up to 24 units to provide Earth observation data for security, public, and commercial use. Under this contract, IHI is procuring four satellites, with an option to manufacture and operate an additional 20. The company aims to build the full 24-satellite constellation after assessing demand through use-case creation and market development. The remaining two satellites from the current contract are planned for assembly and testing in Japan starting around summer 2026, with a launch scheduled for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026. IHI's future constellation vision includes adding optical sensors, VDES, RF, infrared, and hyperspectral satellites. By providing target detection and tracking capabilities for land and maritime operations, IHI aims to contribute to Japan's national and economic security. Furthermore, it seeks to deepen cooperation with allies and like-minded nations through the mutual sharing of satellite data and imaging capacity. Guided by its management philosophy of 'Contributing to the development of society through technology,' IHI will lead the development of the satellite constellation using its core engineering capabilities. By collecting information across land, sea, air, and space, the IHI Group aims to provide analyzed data tailored to needs, contributing to a safe and secure society.