German defence company Rheinmetall AG and Norwegian Space Norway AS have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in space-based capabilities for maritime situational awareness.
Rheinmetall states that the agreement builds on an existing exchange between the companies and establishes a framework for evaluating joint opportunities. The cooperation covers satellite-based communications, sensors and mission systems, as well as their integration into overarching command and information systems. The stated goal is to develop future capabilities for customers in Germany and, in the longer term, in other allied nations.
"This Memorandum of Understanding is a milestone in bringing together our complementary space capabilities and developing tailored solutions for demanding customer requirements," says Timo Haas, Chief Executive of Rheinmetall's Digital Systems division, in the press release.
At the core of the agreement is the planned integration of Space Norway's C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite capability. Rheinmetall states that through the SPOCK 1 programme it already delivers a high-resolution X-band SAR capability to Germany, based on ICEYE satellite technology and produced by Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions. C-band SAR complements X-band SAR by offering broader coverage of large maritime areas, while X-band enables high-resolution surveillance of individual targets. Rheinmetall describes the two frequency bands as complementary and necessary for coherent maritime situational awareness.
"This agreement provides a clear basis for jointly exploring how our satellite capabilities and infrastructure resources can contribute to existing and future operational solutions," says Morten Tengs, Chief Executive of Space Norway AS.
Rheinmetall highlights the Arctic and the North Atlantic as areas where continuous maritime situational awareness is described as an increasingly important operational requirement. The company states that the cooperation also has relevance to the bilateral Hansa Agreement between Germany and Norway, which is said to provide a framework for deepened cooperation on sovereign and future defence capabilities.