IHI and ICEYE agree to cooperate to develop earth-observation satellite constellation
- Satellites to be manufactured and operated in Japan to strengthen national security
- Imagery & capacity could be shared with Japan’s allies & like-minded countries
22 May, 2025, Tokyo: IHI Corporation (“IHI”), the Japanese heavy industries company and a leading manufacturer of solid rockets and propulsion systems, and ICEYE, a global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite technology (“ICEYE”), have reached an agreement to cooperate on the development of a SAR constellation of up to 24 satellites, to provide earth-observation data for military, civilian and commercial purposes.
A memorandum of understanding between the two companies was signed at DSEI Japan, the biannual defense event taking place this week at Makuhari Messe, near Tokyo. IHI and ICEYE plan to establish a satellite manufacturing facility in Japan, and the satellites would be operated domestically. This initiative is intended to support Japan’s ambitions of boosting space industries while strengthening national security and resilience.
Mr. Antti Kunnas, Executive Director, Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Mr. Tuukka Mäki-Lohiluoma, Assistant to the Defense Attaché, Embassy of Finland Tokyo
Mr. Otso Ojanen, Senior Vice President Satellite Mission Line of Business, ICEYE
Mr. Atsushi Sato, Managing Executive Officer, President of Aero Engine, Space & Defense Business Area, IHI
Mr. Atsushi Endo, Director for Defense Equipment Transfer Strategy, International Cooperation Division, Equipment Policy Department, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency, Ministry of Defense
In the face of heightened geopolitical instability, Japan is investing in its national defense capability to help navigate existing and emerging challenges. IHI intends that its partnership with ICEYE, and the SAR constellation it will create, will support JMoD’s goal for ensuring the effectiveness of stand-off defense capabilities through strengthened sovereign earth-observation capability.
SAR satellites offer significant advantages for observation and remote sensing, using microwave radar pulses to generate high-resolution images of the Earth's surface, regardless of weather or lighting conditions. This enables reliable, continuous monitoring and diverse applications, including climate change analysis and vessel-tracking. ICEYE is a global leader in SAR satellite technology.
In line with its management philosophies of “Contributing to the development of society through technology”, IHI will leverage its engineering capabilities, and specifically its manufacturing technology, to lead the development of this constellation. It is intended that the system will eventually include five other types of sensors – Optical, VHF Data Exchange System (VDES, the next generation of AIS (Automatic Identification System) for maritime vessels), radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR) and Hyperspectral imaging– providing the target detection and tracking capabilities required for defense operations on land or at sea. IHI intends to play an important role not only in strengthening Japan’s own national and economic security, but in deepening cooperation with its allies and like-minded countries through the sharing of satellite imagery and satellite capacity.
Furthermore, IHI Group will gather and analyze information across multiple domains -land, sea, air and space - to contribute to the realization of a safe and secure society. Aiming to enhance maritime safety from space, IHI is already working with two Japanese start-ups, ArkEdge Space and LocationMind Inc., to develop a technology to improve maritime situational awareness via VDES satellites. The project is funded by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
IHI plans to launch a Hyperspectral imaging satellite by March 2026 to develop the use case for military, civilian and commercial customers.
ICEYE, the global leader in SAR satellite technology, has expanded its presence in Japan, a strategic milestone that strengthens the company’s footprint in the Asia Pacific region and will help accelerate its commercial offering and development of future space technologies.
ICEYE acknowledges the strong support of the Finnish government in fostering collaboration with Japan and advancing mutual goals in innovation and space development. ICEYE looks forward to deepening its engagement in Japan and contributing to the growth of the country’s space sector.
Atsushi Sato, President of IHI’s Aero Engine, Space & Defense Business Area, said: “Today’s world is increasingly insecure. Japan’s National Defense Strategy recognizes the importance of strengthening its own sovereign capability in space whilst simultaneously opening the door to cooperation and collaboration with allies and like-minded countries who share the nation’s strategic interests. This MOU is the first step in realizing the next generation of capabilities critical to Japan’s national security in the years to come.”
Rafal Modrzewski, Co-founder & CEO of ICEYE, said: "ICEYE has had a close relationship with Japan since 2018, building trust and long-term commitment. The strengthening Finland-Japan relationship and technical alliance enhance both nations' security. By collaborating with Japanese organizations, ICEYE improves their defense capabilities and strengthens shared security. We are dedicated to creating new connections and deepening relationships with all of Japan's industry."
<About IHI>
IHI Corporation is a major comprehensive heavy-industry manufacturer of Japan, tracing its roots to Japan’s first modern shipbuilding facility established in 1853. It has expanded its business ever since, in recent years providing wide-ranging solutions in the four main areas of Resource, Energy and Environment; Social Infrastructure; Industrial Systems and General-purpose Machinery; and Aero Engine, Space and Defense. In the field of satellites, IHI Aerospace provides propulsion systems and devices, while Meisei Electric provides sensors for space companies and organizations such as JAXA. IHI has also worked recently to solve its customers’ problems by engaging in business using satellite information and data.
<About ICEYE>
ICEYE delivers unparalleled persistent monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to changes in any location on Earth, faster and more accurately than ever before.
Owning the world's largest synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation, ICEYE provides objective, near real-time insights, ensuring that customers have unmatched access to actionable data, day or night, even in challenging environmental conditions. As a trusted partner to governments and commercial industries, ICEYE delivers intelligence in sectors such as defense and intelligence, insurance, natural catastrophe response and recovery, security, maritime monitoring, and finance, enabling decision-making that contributes to community resilience and sustainable development.
ICEYE operates internationally with offices in Finland, Poland, Spain, the UK, Australia, Japan, UAE, Greece, and the US. We have more than 700 employees, inspired by the shared vision of improving life on Earth by becoming the global source of truth in Earth Observation.
