ICEYE launches four new satellites aboard Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission

Helsinki, Finland – October 20, 2026 – ICEYE, the world leader in sovereign intelligence from space, has successfully launched and deployed four new SAR satellites into orbit, serving ICEYE and dedicated customer missions, including two satellites for Portugal’s Atlantic Constellation with CTI Aeroespacial and the Portuguese Air Force.

Integrated via Exolaunch, the satellites lifted off on October 20, 2026, aboard the Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission with SpaceX from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA. Each spacecraft has established communication, and routine commissioning operations are underway.

With these two new satellites, the number of ICEYE-built satellites available to the Atlantic Constellation is now four. Procured by CTI Aeroespacial, they join the two satellites launched earlier this year, including Portugal’s first sovereign SAR satellite, which is already supporting national operations.

This marks ICEYE's second launch this month. On October 1, 2026, ICEYE launched four SAR satellites aboard the Transporter-18 rideshare mission with SpaceX, serving ICEYE and dedicated customer missions.

ICEYE has now successfully launched 84 SAR satellites for the company and its customers, and seven governments across Europe have procured sovereign satellite systems from ICEYE, making it the leading provider of space-based intelligence.

This pace reflects ICEYE's production rate, which is now doubling, from 50 satellites per year today to a target of 100 annually in 2027 and beyond. 

ICEYE-built constellations are available as a fully sovereign capability, free from ITAR restrictions. ICEYE delivers the satellites 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.

ICEYE recently delivered a fully operational sovereign space system to the Polish Armed Forces, from contract signing to operational capability in less than a year, among the fastest sovereign space deployments in history. The model is now being replicated across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and the pace is accelerating.

Image: SpaceX