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28 July 2026 | Missions, Defense & Intelligence, ISR Cell
6 min read
Operation Fighter Lion: Demonstrating tactical timelines with ISR Cells
ICEYE’s space-based ISR capabilities integrated into the Royal Netherlands Army’s Fighter Lion military exercise.
Embedded ISR is more than a presence. It’s a fundamental shift in process that enables rapid tasking-to-intelligence cycles, faster decision-making, and better situational awareness when the situation in the field is constantly changing.
The Royal Netherlands Army’s Fighter Lion scenario harnessed the force multiplier effect of integrated space-based ISR in the largest Dutch military exercise in 20 years.
Working side-by-side with the Space Command, part of the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force, ICEYE and participants from the Dutch Space Command created a feedback loop that eliminated the friction of traditional intelligence gathering as part of the wider exercise.
Simulating real-world challenges
Reflecting NATO’s real-world defense challenges in Northern Europe, Fighter Lion simulated a large-scale invasion from the fictional state of Murinus crossing the Oder river to advance from the east to western Europe.
This multinational military exercise in the Netherlands and Northern Germany, saw 7,000 soldiers participating in defensive training drills.
The Royal Netherlands Army focused on stopping the first phase of the attack to prevent consolidation, before handing over the active battle to heavier armored forces – a manoeuvre that requires precise coordination. The exercise involved the deployment of new technologies, drones, artillery, and command and control, as well as logistical and medical support.
Maintaining situational awareness in high-intensity conflicts requires access to persistent surveillance to inform critical decision-making. ICEYE deployed a mobile ISR Cell, staffed by ICEYE ISR operators, tasked with providing actionable intelligence in near real-time.
Testing operational integration
In 2025, the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force selected ICEYE to deliver a full suite of sovereign, space-based ISR solutions, including SAR satellites, and both local and mobile ground segments. Fighter Lion marked the first time that ICEYE and the Netherlands Armed Forces trained together in a live military exercise.
While the exercise demonstrated initial positive results, its primary value was as a significant eye-opener for the Army regarding the capability to deploy and use sovereign and commercial space-based ISR within the tactical domain.
ICEYE’s ISR Cell was embedded into the workflow to test commercial ISR CONOPS within the RNLA planning process.
The fastest delivery time was just under 13 minutes from image acquisition to the analyst's desk, the early results were positive, proving the potential for rapid communication when barriers between analyst and commander are removed.
Fighter Lion is only the first step in a long-term collaboration between space resources and the land domain. It provided a foundation for integrating space-based ISR into tactical operations, moving beyond high-level command to support the soldier in the field.
“It was a valuable exercise to take the first steps toward integrated cooperation with the Army and Space. Looking ahead, I see many opportunities that we can pursue together”
Arjen, Space operator officer with the Royal Netherlands Army
Visibility in any conditions
Beyond providing intelligence on the simulated threats, Fighter Lion provided SAR signature training - a revelation for ground troops.
Traditionally, ground units rely on visual cover, such as darkness, terrain, or camouflage netting, to mask their positions from observation. SAR satellites are able to see through conventional concealment methods, regardless of weather conditions, time of day, or ground infrastructure.
ICEYE was able to detail how their specific equipment and units appeared from space, showcasing the battlefield from the perspective of an adversary’s space assets. Understanding their unique SAR signature gave the troops the necessary context to implement more effective concealment strategies.
It proved that the value of an ISR Cell lies not only in seeing the field, but in helping the force understand how to operate securely within it.
Proving performance under pressure
In real-life conflict scenarios, tactical timescales are measured in minutes, not hours.
Fighter Lion tested the integration of ICEYE’s ISR Cell directly into an active workflow, delivering actionable intelligence under operational pressure, and delivering it fast.
“Our participation in Fighter Lion proved that we can inject persistent, actionable SAR data directly into tactical flows, at the speed of modern conflict. This is just the beginning of a long collaboration that embeds space-based ISR directly into ground troop workflows.”
Joost Elstak
VP of Missions at ICEYE
In a live, large-scale conflict situation when precision and agility are paramount, embedded space-based ISR is the difference between simply responding to the changes in the field, and staying ahead of them.
Learn more about the ISR Cell
The ISR Cell compresses the chain from satellite collection to analyst-ready product into minutes, operating from a deployable, self-contained unit that moves with the force it supports. It gives every level of command direct access to satellite tasking, downlink, AI-assisted analysis, and secure intelligence dissemination, on-site and on tactical timelines.
Capabilities previously limited to strategic command can now be deployed to high-risk environments and serve as a backup if a fixed, centralized ground segment goes offline. Where traditional satellite intelligence is optimized for decisions measured in hours or days, and aerial systems are constrained by range, line-of-sight, and electronic warfare, the ISR Cell brings space-based intelligence to the tactical edge without those constraints.
