🇫🇮 Arianespace and ICEYE sign MoU for future launches aboard Ariane 6
September 9, 2026
Arianespace and ICEYE have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the use of Arianespace launch services for future missions carrying ICEYE satellites aboard Ariane 6 to support European governments and institutions.
Under the MoU, ICEYE and Arianespace are discussing booking launch services in the coming years. Both companies firmly believe that maintaining and strengthening Europe’s sovereign access to space is a strategic priority. These future missions would also support the continued ramp-up of Ariane 6 in response to growing demand.
The potential cooperation would combine Ariane 6’s launch capabilities with ICEYE’s expertise in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) Earth observation, helping to meet Europe’s strategic needs for sovereign access to space and Earth observation data.
ICEYE-built constellations are available as a fully sovereign capability, free from ITAR restrictions. ICEYE delivers constellations as part of a complete, secure system that can be launched, deployed, and operational within 12 months, including ground segment, comprehensive training, and continuous software updates. Seven governments to date across Europe have procured sovereign constellations from ICEYE, making it the leading European provider of space-based intelligence. ICEYE satellites can acquire images of the Earth’s surface day and night and in all weather conditions. Their high revisit frequency makes them particularly well suited to government and institutional needs in areas such as security, defence, surveillance and emergency management.
“We are delighted to partner with ICEYE, an innovative and fast-growing European company. This partnership illustrates our commitment to maintaining sovereign access to space and supporting critical capabilities such as Earth observation. This agreement further illustrates Arianespace’s commitment to supporting European governments and institutions and contributing to a strong and autonomous European space sector,” says David Cavaillolès, CEO of Arianespace.
“This MoU allows us to explore Ariane 6 as a large, highly reliable, European launch provider, supporting the delivery of sovereign missions for customers. Scaling our satellite production goes hand in hand with scaling resilient, multiple routes to space and we are deeply committed to reinforcing the continent’s sovereign space infrastructure,” says RafaÅ‚ Modrzewski, CEO and Co-founder of ICEYE.
About ICEYE
ICEYE is the world leader in sovereign intelligence from space. We deliver persistent monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to changes in any location on Earth.
ICEYE owns the world’s largest and most advanced SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellite constellation. To our customers we provide intelligence with unmatched quality, latency and revisit times, in any weather, day or night. To governments who choose to operate their own constellation we provide this proven capability as a sovereign system.
ICEYE-built constellations serve customers in defense and intelligence, environmental monitoring, insurance and emergency management. We enable fast decisions that contribute to a safer future.
Natively European, founded in Finland. ICEYE operates globally with over 1,000 employees.
Media contact
For more information, visit Arianespace.
Originally published on September 9, Â 2026 by Arianespace.
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