Poland has purchased four satellites for civilian purposes. The new purchases will increase the total number of satellites owned by Polish entities from six to 10. The systems will become operational in 2027 and will cost €85 million. The Ministry of Development and Technology has announced that a contract has entered into force providing Poland with its own constellation of observation satellites.
At least four satellites including three optoelectronic and one radar machines will be developed under the agreement. The ministry explained that Poland will gain access to high-resolution Earth observation data, and indigenous companies will gain expertise in the production and integration of satellite systems.
Today, satellite data are used in spatial management, agriculture, emergency management or environmental protection. The data obtained through the new satellites will be used to record, assess and monitor the effects of climate change and environmental pollution, as well as for security assessments and to determine the amount of state support for farmers and entrepreneurs.
A pair of observation satellites for the armed forces bought from Airbus Defence and Space together with a receiving station installed in Poland for €575 million ($612 million) is also due to be in orbit by 2027. Poland currently uses data from the Italian constellation’s COSMO-SKyMed and second-generation COSMO-SkyMed radar satellites. The optoelectronic satellites purchased by Poland will also find many civilian applications, including rescue, agriculture, and mapping.
Previously, as early as next year, the Polish Armed Forces will gain access to the resources of the currently operating Pleiades Neo satellite constellation. Ultimately, Polish satellites will also operate in this constellation.
In 2020, more than 1,000 satellites and other equipment were sent from Earth, and in 2022 it was already more than 2,000 objects. The Americans send the most equipment, accounting for almost 80 % of such objects in 2022.
Arkadiusz Słomczyński