Hisdesat is thus fulfilling its commitment to ensure, within the framework of its public-private partnership with the Ministry of Defense, the future availability of critical space capabilities for security and defense.
With a development period of 48 months, SpainSat NG III is scheduled for launch in the third quarter of 2030 and will begin operations in early 2031. Its integration, together with SpainSat NG I, will complete the architecture of the SPAINSAT NG Program, the largest space project driven by Spanish industry.
Currently, NATO, the European Union through the GOVSATCOM program, and various allied governments are users of these next-generation secure communications services.
Improvements to the initial configuration:
SpainSat NG III will replicate the model of its predecessors, while introducing some improvements. It will offer advanced capabilities in the X, military Ka, and UHF bands, incorporating state-of-the-art technologies that will improve operational flexibility, increase available capacity, and strengthen protection against interference and electronic threats.
Its coverage area will extend from the United States and South America, through Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Combined with that of SpainSat NG I, the system's combined capacity will reach as far as Singapore, in Asia.
Spanish Participation:
The construction of SpainSat NG III will once again mobilize the Spanish and European space industry. Hisdesat has appointed Airbus Defence and Space as the prime contractor for the satellite, which will leverage the experience gained in developing the SpainSat NG family.
Airbus Defence and Space, and Thales Alenia Space as co-contractor, will be joined by at least ten Spanish companies that will contribute critical technologies for the satellite's development, creating skilled jobs and generating significant technological returns for Spain.
The Spanish industry will provide the communications payloads, including the integration of the Communications Module at Thales Alenia Space in Spain, thus strengthening national capacity in secure communications payloads. Airbus in Spain will be responsible for the X-band payload, while Thales Alenia Space in Spain will handle the UHF and military Ka-band payloads.
Hisdesat thus continues a strategic program for the defense of Spain and its allies, and reaffirms its confidence in the national space industry, which is already an international benchmark in the field of secure satellite communications.
