- SpainSat NG I is a new generation military communications satellite developed by the Spanish company Hisdesat to guarantee the security and operability of the Spanish Armed Forces and their NATO allies.
- The complete programme, comprising SpainSat NG I and SpainSat NG II, will enable a more than tenfold increase in communications capacity over the previous generation of satellites, offering the transmission of more data in less time.
- From 17 to 21 March 2025, the Cartuja Auditorium in Seville will host the first edition of ‘New Space & Solutions’, a pioneering meeting where the space and satellite industry will come together to jointly explain the solutions they provide to citizens.
Spain has made a significant leap forward in the aerospace sector, reinforcing its position as a benchmark in space technology and defence in Europe, thanks to the launch of SpainSat NG I, the “most technologically advanced and one of the most innovative satellites in the world”, according to the Ministry of Defence. SpainSat NG I is a new generation military communications satellite developed by the Spanish company Hisdesat that will offer more secure communications to the Spanish Armed Forces, allied countries and NATO, as well as the defence of its air and land space against possible threats or military attacks from other territories.
Hisdesat, the Spanish government satellite operator, has been the driving force behind this programme which has marked, according to the Ministry of Defence, “the greatest milestone in the history of space in Spain and one of the largest in Europe”. All the details of this project will be shared in Seville, the setting for ‘New Space & Solutions’, a pioneering event that seeks to highlight the impact of ‘New Space’ on society and the business fabric. This is the first aerospace meeting of international relevance to be held in the Andalusian capital since the Spanish Space Agency (ESA) established its headquarters in the city of Seville in April 2024.
Miguel Ángel García Primo, General Manager of Hisdesat, will speak during the opening day of ‘New Space & Solutions’ about the “most important and ambitious space programme ever undertaken by Spain”. Developed through a public-private partnership formula between the Spanish Ministry of Defence and Hisdesat, and with the collaboration of the Ministries of Industry and Tourism, and Science, Innovation and Universities, it is the “most advanced European satellite defined by software”, which includes the latest generation of active X-Band antennas.
Spain, at the forefront of space and satellites
A project conceived and developed by Hisdesat with the participation of aerospace industry giants such as Airbus Defence and Space, which has led the manufacture of SpainSat NG I together with Thales Alenia Space, responsible for its payload. This collaboration combines cutting-edge technology and experience in the aerospace sector, and ESA joined in with the creation of an advanced communications payload. It features innovative antenna technology that enables faster data transmission, enhanced security and the ability to precisely direct communication beams where they are needed.
“This satellite offers a special and secure communications service, not only to the Armed Forces but also to NATO countries, making Spain the fifth country to offer this important element to members of the alliance“, said the Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, who visited Hisdesat’s facilities in Hoyo de Manzanares, Madrid, a few days after the launch.
A satellite for the present and the future
“SpainSat NG I is the most advanced secure communications satellite in Europe today and ready to serve the needs of tomorrow“, said Enrique Granell, SpainSat NG Project Manager for Airbus in Spain, after the successful launch from Cape Canaveral (Florida) on a Falcon 9 rocket owned by SpaceX.
This is the first of the two satellites that make up the SpainSat NG Project, which will be joined in late 2025 or early 2026 by SpainSat NG II. These two new-generation satellites, the most advanced in Europe, will increase the communications capacity of the previous generation more than tenfold, enabling the transmission of more data in less time.
SpainSat NG I will replace the current SpainSat and Xtar-EUR satellites, although it will not be until about four months from now – already in the summer of 2025 – when it will reach the established orbit to start operating at a distance of 36,000 kilometres. It will do so during its 15-year lifespan, during which it will be able, for example, to report on a nuclear event at high altitude or to guarantee communications protected from interference or other threats.
The satellites, in addition to being used by the Spanish government and its armed forces, will serve international organisations such as the European Commission and NATO, as well as other governments of allied countries. Meanwhile, their coverage will extend from the United States and South America to the Middle East, including Africa and Europe, even reaching parts of the Asian continent.
‘New Space & Solutions’ will turn Seville into the capital of Space from 17 to 21 March with an event that includes two face-to-face sessions (Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 March) at the Cartuja Auditorium -managed by Yventu- and three virtual sessions (Wednesday 19, Thursday 20 and Friday 21 March).
All the presentations will be available for on-demand viewing through El Observatorio, the digital platform of Medina Media Events, where each conference will be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, free of charge.
The first edition of ‘New Space & Solutions’ is organised by Medina Media Events with the collaboration of Seville City Council and the Junta de Andalucía and has the support of Rohde & Schwarz, ALTER, Ansys, Arkadia Space, Augusta Abogados, CT Ingenieros, DEKRA, Integrasys, Parsec, Proexca (Government of the Islands), Space-Aero, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, CEU Universidad Fernando III, among others.