Overview

SpainSat-NG2 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-NG2 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: October 23, 2025 (UTC Oct 23)
• Launch Vehicle: SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base SLC-40
• First stage was expended to ensure the payload reached Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).
• Orbital Position: 30° 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-NG2 is the second of two satellites under Spainsat NG. Its twin, SpainSat-NG1, launched in January 2025, is operating at 29° West to complete full global coverage. Together, the satellites will support secure communications operations through 2039–2040