Overview

SpainSat NG‑1 is a state-of-the-art geostationary secure communications satellite built under Spain’s Spainsat NG program. Operated by Hisdesat, it supports Spanish defense, NATO, EU, and allied communications with advanced X-band, military Ka-band, and UHF capabilities.

Constructed by Airbus Defence & Space and Thales Alenia Space, SpainSat NG‑1 is based on the next-gen Eurostar Neo platform. Its custom-designed payload incorporates software-defined active antennas, capable of electronic beam steering, interference detection, and anti-jamming—a leap in secure satellite performance.

Purpose & Capability

• Provides military and government communications beyond line-of-sight across two-thirds of the globe—from the Americas to Asia.
• Features robust protection againstinterference and spoofing, with resilience to nuclear high-altitude events.
• Designed for real-time beam reconfiguration, optimizing bandwidth under changing operational needs.
• Offers a 10× increase in capacity over its predecessor satellites.

Launch & Orbit

• Launch Date: January 29, 2025 (UTC Jan 30)
• Launch Vehicle: SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 from Kennedy Space Center LC-39A
• First stage was expended to ensure the payload reached Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).
• Orbital Position: 29° East geostationary
• The satellite measures ~6 tonnes, nearly 7.2 m tall, and will operate for 15 years, entering service mid-2025.

Strategic Importance

• Strengthens Spain’s sovereign military communications, vital for joint operations and emergency response
• Enables net-centric warfare, secure battlefield coordination, and resilient communication in infrastructure-poor regions
• Marks Spain’s transition to advanced digital payloads and active-antenna systems—rare capabilities among European satellites

Program Outlook

SpainSat NG‑1 is the first of two satellites under Spainsat NG. Its twin, SpainSat NG‑2, is scheduled for late 2025, operating at 30° West to complete full global coverage. Together, the satellites will support secure communications operations through 2039–2040