Ibadan, 18 September 2026. – Japanese synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellite operator Synspective has signed a launch service agreement with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) for two StriX satellites, securing a launch aboard Japan’s H3 rocket in the second half of 2027 as it expands its commercial Earth-observation constellation.
The satellites will launch aboard the H3-22L from the JAXA Tanegashima Space Center and will be deployed into a mid-inclination orbit selected to support high-frequency observations of major economic centers and disaster-prone regions worldwide, including the Asia-Pacific.
H3 adds a new launch option for Synspective
The agreement adds a new dimension to Synspective’s launch strategy. Rocket Lab has been the sole launch provider for Synspective’s constellation since 2020, with the company’s StriX satellites continuing to launch on Electron from New Zealand. The H3 agreement introduces Japan’s domestic launch vehicle as an additional route to orbit, giving Synspective another launch option as it expands its constellation.
Synspective described the agreement as a step toward greater “strategic autonomy” in access to space, with the domestic launch option providing a transportation foundation for the rapid expansion of its constellation. The company also linked reliable and continuous satellite deployment to its goal of making SAR data an operational asset for disaster response, infrastructure monitoring and security.
“For SAR data to become an operational, dependable asset in disaster response, infrastructure monitoring, and security, satellites must be delivered into orbit continuously and reliably,” remarked Takashi Nakamura, Executive Officer, Synspective. “This agreement with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries provides that foundation, and I see it as a meaningful undertaking where Japan’s space transportation capabilities and our mission converge. We will continue to steadily advance the establishment of a global Earth observation infrastructure.”
Synspective’s agreement with MHI also follows a similar deal with Japanese lunar exploration company ispace. In July, ispace signed a launch and transportation services contract with MHI for its Mission 3 ULTRA lunar lander, which is scheduled to launch aboard an H3 rocket in 2028. Both agreements demonstrate H3’s expanding role as a domestic launch option for Japan’s commercial space sector, from lunar transportation to satellite-based Earth observation.
A new constellation for sharing small SAR satellite constellation capacity
The H3 agreement comes as Synspective expands its constellation strategy beyond the existing StriX program. On September 15, the company announced Synspective OMNIA, a new program designed to share the capabilities of a small SAR satellite constellation among multiple users.
Under the model, customers can secure priority observation and data-acquisition rights for specific regions and orbital paths without making the large investment required to build and operate an independent satellite system. The model is intended to address the cost and utilization challenges associated with dedicated satellite systems. By pooling demand across multiple users, OMNIA is designed to support higher-frequency observations and greater redundancy while allowing customers to purchase additional shared capacity when needed.
OMNIA will involve the construction of a new, dedicated constellation alongside Synspective’s existing StriX constellation. This combination will increase observation frequency, redundancy and regional coverage while enabling more flexible priority access for customers. The program will also combine satellite constellation capacity with Synspective’s SAR data-analysis capabilities, extending the service beyond access to SAR data to the delivery of information intended to support operational decision-making.
“We believe that in the years ahead, as the world faces many different risks, information from space should be used widely around the world. Synspective OMNIA is a system that lets countries and companies use space while keeping their own information sovereignty, and it is a concrete step toward that goal,” explained Motoyuki Arai, CEO of Synspective Inc.
“By expanding our operations with a new constellation, we will build, together with partners, a system that can observe the whole globe, something no single country or organization could do on its own. The name OMNIA, which we gave this program, reflects our wish to share all of our observation capabilities so that anyone can see and understand any place with their own eyes. It shows our strong commitment to our mission of building new infrastructure for the next generation.”
The H3 agreement therefore comes at a significant point in Synspective’s expansion, as the company moves to diversify its access to orbit while building out the satellite infrastructure needed for a broader commercial Earth-observation service.
