Ibadan, 11 June 2026. – Airbus Defense and Space has signed an MoU with Rohde & Schwarz, constellr, Orbint and High Performance Space Structure Systems (HPS) at the ongoing ILA Airshow in Berlin to collaborate on a satellite-based Earth observation and ISR solution.
The consortium brings together five complementary German specialists to develop a joint solution that addresses growing governmental demand for sovereign, end-to-end space-based surveillance capabilities, independent of non-European dependencies.
The joint solution intends to address the full Earth observation chain, covering multi-sensor tasking, collection, processing, exploitation and dissemination. It also aims to integrate RF-sensors, electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR), synthetic aperture radar (SAR)-derived products, and signal-related geospatial intelligence outputs into coherent, customer-ready services.
The five partners will therefore combine their complementary capabilities across the full intelligence chain, and proven expertise along every stage of modern Earth observation and ISR. HPS will deliver space-qualified deployable mesh reflector antennas that are optimized for high-frequency Earth observation and communication payloads, while Rohde & Schwarz provides high-performance RF components, signal processing technologies, and radar antenna systems.
Similarly, Orbint brings geolocation methods, data processing algorithms, and system concept contributions to the partnership, with constellr contributing thermal infrared satellite systems based on the company’s current and next-generation platforms, supporting initial and full operational capability.
Meanwhile, as prime contractor, Airbus will be responsible for overall mission and system architecture, end-to-end integration, program management, and the customer interface.
“A sovereign space architecture offers sufficient opportunities for the entire German space ecosystem, and the political will can be implemented very effectively. Many thanks to Airbus for his motivation to bring SMEs on board for defense missions,” stated Ernst K. Pfeiffer, CEO of HPS GmbH.
With all five companies headquartered in Germany, the partnership represents a concentrated national industrial response to that demand and a concrete step towards a European sovereign ISR architecture.
“Europe has the talent, the technology, and the industrial base to build its own space intelligence infrastructure and the strategic imperative to do so,” said Mike Schöllhorn, CEO of Airbus Defense and Space. “This consortium brings together five German companies whose capabilities are genuinely complementary. Together we can deliver a sovereign, end-to-end solution that no single company could offer alone.”
