The space industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors, with new satellite constellations appearing in orbit each year, providing increasingly accurate representations of Earth’s surface. These satellites are equipped with hyperspectral cameras that capture data in various spectral bands and radar sensors capable of recording data in all weather conditions. These devices successfully perform tasks for crisis management and urban development, among other applications. Satellite data is also highly valuable for organizations responsible for national security. The high resolution of the data, combined with frequent satellite revisits over a given area, is an excellent tool for those responsible for state protection.
From the European Union’s perspective, ensuring the protection of member countries is crucial. Knowledge obtained through satellite data can assist relevant authorities in making key decisions affecting security and serve as a deterrent against adversaries taking actions against European Union countries.
To meet the growing expectations for Earth Observation (EO) data acquisition and increase the efficiency of satellite constellations, the SPIDER project (Space based Persistent ISR for Defence and Europe Reinforcement) was established. The project is carried out by a consortium of 35 organizations from 17 countries, led by AIRBUS. The goal of the project is to enable defense units to utilize satellite imagery collected by a highly reactive, multi-constellation satellite system with autonomous tasking and short revisit times.
EXATEL’s Approach
EXATEL’s participation in the SPIDER project consortium presents an opportunity to collaborate with some of the largest entities in the European space sector. This collaboration opens new avenues for involvement in other international projects related to the space industry, including those for the European Space Agency, the European Union Agency for the Space Programme, the European Defence Fund, and other public organizations active in the space industry.
The work associated with the project also provides EXATEL’s staff with the unique experience of developing project assumptions related to the latest space technologies.
Consortium leader
Airbus Defence and Space SAS (France)
Members of the consortium:
Aalborg University (Denmark), Airbus Defence and Space GmbH (Germany), Airbus Defence and Space SAU (Spain), DATI Group SIA (Latvia), E-GEOS Sp (Itlay), Elettronica S.p.A (Italy), EnduroSat AD (Bulgaria), European Union Satellite Centre (Spain), EXATEL SA (Poland), FALCONERS Ltd (Estonia), Flemish Technological Research Institute (Belgium), HENSOLDT Cyber (Germany), HISDESAT Servicios Estratégicos S.A. (Spain), INDRA Sistemas SA (Spain), Integrated Systems Development SA (Greece), KONGSBERG Defence & Aerospace AS (Norway), Leonardo SpA (Italy), MBRYONICS Ltd (reland), NanoAvionics UAB (Lithuania), Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO (Netherlands), Office national d’études et de recherches aérospatiales (France), OHB-Sweden AB (Sweden), Royal NLR – Netherlands Aerospace Centre (Netherlands), SAFRAN DATA SYSTEMS (France), SATLANTIS MICROSATS S.L. (Spain), SITAEL S.p.A. (Italy), SPACEWAVE O (Estonia), TALLIN UNIVERSITY of TECHNOLOGY (Estonia), Telespazio SpA (Italy), TERRA SPATIUM SA (Greece), THALES ALENIA SPACE France (France), THALES ALENIA SPACE ITAL (Italy), VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd (Finland).
General information about the project
Project title: SPIDER – Space based Persistent ISR for Defence and Europe Reinforcement
Project Goal: The main objective of the SPIDER project, coordinated by Airbus, is to develop multi-purpose, cost-effective satellite constellations dedicated to space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) tasks for defense purposes.
Grant Agreement Number: 101121113
Total Project Funding: €41,818,025.92
Funding for EXATEL SA: €799,312.50
Project Duration: December 2023 – August 2026
The SPIDER project is funded by the European Defence Fund (EDF). The primary recipients of the services based on the developed solution will be:
- Defense institutions and organizations related to national security
- Space surveillance agencies and other institutions that can benefit from the data and information obtained from the satellite constellations
More information about the project:
Airbus coordinates four European Defence Fund R&D projects | Airbus
The SPIDER project is funded by the European Defence Fund (EDF).
