ESA selects ARISE consortium to design blueprint for Europe's sovereign Earth Observation Governmental Service

Helsinki, Finland – September 17, 2026 – The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected the ARISE consortium (Architecture for Resilient and Federated ISR in Sovereign Europe), led by ICEYE, the European leader in sovereign intelligence from space, to conduct an architecture design study for the EU Earth Observation Governmental Service (EOGS). The study, part of the European Resilience from Space (ERS) initiative, will define a blueprint for a sovereign, space-based intelligence system serving European civil security and defence users.

Access to sovereign space-based intelligence has become a definitive requirement for European strategic autonomy. The 12+8 months study, funded by and implemented on behalf of DG DEFIS, will define the end-to-end architecture – space segment, ground segment, user segment, concept of operations, security model, and governance.

The significance of EOGS extends beyond a single program. The architectural choices made through this study will help shape how Europe develops sovereign Earth Observation capabilities for the next decade and beyond. As the EU strengthens its security, resilience and strategic autonomy, EOGS provides an opportunity to integrate national, institutional and commercial capabilities into a common operational framework.

ICEYE leads a consortium that covers the full European industrial chain, including Indra Space, Rheinmetall, HISDESAT as the core team, complemented with Starion, T-systems, SafranAI, Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions (RISS), Creotech Instruments, CTI Aeroespacial, with focused consulting support from FSO Instruments, OroraTech and Unseenlabs. Together, these partners combine proven operational systems with institutional and national capabilities across defence, security, classified Earth Observation, dual-use operations, sovereign cloud and data infrastructure, system accreditation, intelligence analytics, and mission and upstream development.

“Europe cannot defend what it cannot see,” said Rafał Modrzewski, CEO and Co-founder of ICEYE. “The study awarded today will help fundamentally define Europe's future architecture for resilience and security – the first step toward a federated system of interoperable sovereign space capabilities delivering European-scale security and situational awareness.

“We are proud to work closely with European institutions to help build an environment in which Europe’s technology companies can scale in Europe, become global champions, and ensure that critical sovereign capabilities remain firmly in European hands.”

“Europe's future Earth Observation capability has to be built on trusted institutional expertise and strong industrial collaboration. This contract advances a more sovereign and resilient European capability, fully aligned with Indra's strategy to develop integrated space systems that strengthen Europe's autonomy, security and resilience,” said Miguel Ángel Panduro, CEO of Indra Space.

“Future defence capabilities will increasingly depend on the seamless integration of space,
land, air, sea and digital domains. Consortia like ARISE are an important step towards
strengthening Europe’s resilience across this connected battlespace,” said Timo Haas, CEO
Rheinmetall-Division Digital Systems.

“Hisdesat, as dual‑use operator with 25-year track record in secure satellite operations, brings agility, robust data resilience, and proven security protocols to the ARISE consortium, ensuring that the EOGS architecture study delivers both rapid responsiveness and enduring, interoperable solutions for Earth observation,” said Ana María Molina Sánchez, Chief Executive Officer, HISDESAT S.A.

ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Simonetta Cheli, said, "This is an important step in paving the way towards a sovereign European Earth observation capability supporting security and resilience. We are pleased that ICEYE and the ARISE consortium are now poised to contribute to the blueprint to help shape Europe’s Earth observation capabilities for the next decade and beyond, bringing together national, institutional and commercial assets within a shared operational framework aimed to strengthen Europe’s resilience and strategic autonomy.”

The study’s results will inform EOGS implementation under the EU Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034.