Airbus and Hisdesat sign a commercialisation agreement

Airbus Defence and Space and Spanish satellite operator Hisdesat have signed a commercialisation agreement to jointly market imagery and derived applications from the forthcoming PAZ-2 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Earth observation satellites. The accord formalises an expansion of a partnership that began in 2018 with the commercial sale of data from the incumbent PAZ satellite, which operates in coordination with the German TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X radar systems.

Next-Generation Capabilities with PAZ-2
The PAZ-2 programme, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tourism and led by Hisdesat together with the Spanish Ministry of Defence, comprises two twin radar satellites designed to replace and significantly enhance the capabilities of the original PAZ spacecraft. Airbus, selected in 2025 as prime contractor for spacecraft development and manufacture, will oversee satellite production with a high level of national industrial participation—approximately 65% of the content produced by Spanish industry under its leadership.

The core technical differentiators of the PAZ-2 system centre on improvements in resolution, coverage, and responsiveness. The satellites will deliver radar image resolutions of up to 10 centimetres, a substantial increase over current operational systems. Each satellite in the constellation will cover around 6.7 million square kilometres per day with a maximum swath width of 500 kilometres. To support time-critical operations, PAZ-2 is engineered to provide near-real-time data delivery with imagery available within five minutes of acquisition.

Synthetic Aperture Radar Advantage
SAR technology underpins the PAZ-2 mission’s ability to capture high-resolution Earth observation data irrespective of weather conditions or daylight, differentiating it from optical imaging systems that are limited by cloud cover and illumination. This all-weather, day-night capability is increasingly valued across defence, security, and civilian markets where consistent temporal access to data is essential.

Applications Across Defence and Civil Domains
The enhanced PAZ-2 dataset is positioned to support a broad spectrum of use cases. For defence and security agencies, high-resolution radar imagery strengthens intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. Civil applications include infrastructure monitoring, risk and disaster management, border control, environmental assessment, and other scenarios that benefit from frequent, reliable Earth observation updates.

Positioning Against Market Alternatives
Compared with competing Earth observation offerings, PAZ-2’s performance metrics in resolution, area coverage, and rapid data delivery place it among the most advanced commercial SAR services available. The continuity of cooperation between Airbus and Hisdesat, building on their existing market presence with PAZ and the TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X constellation, aims to extend their competitive edge in both military and commercial imagery markets worldwide.

Timeline and Industry Impact
The first PAZ-2 satellite is scheduled to enter service by mid-2031, marking a key milestone for the Spanish space sector and reinforcing Airbus Defence and Space’s role in Europe’s high-end radar observation segment. By consolidating national industrial participation and securing advanced imaging capabilities, the programme supports broader strategic objectives in technological autonomy and responsive Earth observation services.

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