ESA-supported SpainSat NG II success builds towards next-gen secure satellite communications

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Pacis 3 Partnership Programme, a precursor to the European Union’s GOVSATCOM, showcases Europe’s innovative industrial capabilities through the successful deployment of the second satellite in the SpainSat NG programme, SpainSat NG II. Bringing together a rapidly and independently developed payload with the participation of most of the Spanish Space sector and the Eurostar Neo satellite bus from Airbus Defence and Space, the SpainSat NG programme constitutes a stepping stone to long-term secure satcom solutions currently in development. The success of these programmes crystalises the role of the ESA as a public-private technological coordinator.

SpainSat NG II, the second satellite in the SpainSat Next Generation programme joined its twin into orbit on 24 October 2025. Pacis 3 is a Partnership Project between the European Space Agency (ESA) and Spanish operator Hisdesat, supported by the Spanish Space Agency, under ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme. Equipped with the antennas developed by Pacis 3, the two SpainSat NG satellites offer the most advanced governmental satellite communications to date in a showcase of successful of public-private partnerships.

SpainSat NG, operated by Hisdesat, brings together advanced technologies developed under ESA-supported programmes to respond to Europe’s need for flexible, market-ready satellite communications from geostationary orbit (GEO). Comprising of the advanced Pacis 3 X-band and KaGov-band antennas and Airbus’ Eurostar Neo satellite bus, both SpainSat NG satellites are designed to provide secure communications through rapidly changing communication requirements on the ground, in addition to geolocating and disabling jamming attempts.

The Pacis 3 partnership project provided the advanced fully reconfigurable X-band active antennas and steerable KaGov-band antennas of SpainSat NG I and II. Pacis 3 is an initiative between ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications directorate and Hisdesat, a Spanish satellite operator, with support from the Spanish Space Agency (AEE), and Airbus Defence and Space. The payload uses reconfigurable X-band active antennas and individual steerable, deployable Ka-band pallet antennas to enable unprecedented adaptability for the SpainSat NG satellites. The antennas are capable of making individual adjustments, shifting capacity in real time to rapidly adapt to demand and environmental conditions. This revolutionary technology allows SpainSat NG to ensure continuous and secure government communications by dynamically responding to evolving needs on the ground – such as during natural disasters or high-security operations.

Both SpainSat NG satellites are built on the Eurosat Neo satellite product line developed by Airbus Defence and Space under the Neosat programme, co-managed by ESA and CNES. The platform’s innovative modular design provides a twofold advantage. On the one hand, it offers more available mass for state-of-the-art payloads and facilitates their integration. On the other hand, this design also drastically accelerates the production of satellites, optimising time-to-market and affordability for historically costly and complex GEO missions.

The deployment of SpainSat NG II only five years after its conception reveals Europe’s ability to leverage it ecosystem of public, intergovernmental and industry stakeholders to identify, design and deploy its own solutions. This achievement reaffirms Europe’s technological autonomy and continues to foster resilient supply chains within its competitive space landscape capable of delivering timely, cost-effective innovation.

SpainSat NG II is expected to enter operations in Q2 2026, joining SpainSat NG I which entered operation in mid-August 2025. The satellites will serve the needs of the Spanish Armed Forces, and other national and allied government agencies. With the successful delivery of the Pacis 3 and Neosat projects, SpainSat NG adds to the collective defence capabilities of the European Union, serving as precursor to the GOVSATCOM HUB programme and laying the groundwork for further developments in collective defence and resilience in and from space with the European Commission.

“Pacis 3 has been an excellent collaboration between institutional and industrial organisations”, said Miguel Ángel García Primo, Hisdesat’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are proud to have developed SpainSat NG I & II, the most advanced European secure communications satellites, in collaboration with ESA, Spanish Space Agency and Airbus Defence and Space, with the participation of most of the Spanish Space sector. This project has placed Spanish industry at the forefront of active antenna technologies”.

“The success of SpainSat NG demonstrates what Europe’s space players are capable of,” said Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA. “ESA’s role as a neutral technological expert allowed us to build a collaborative philosophy directly into the pool-and-share capabilities enabled by Pacis 3, ensuring governmental users can communicate during a crisis. We are proud to champion this collaboration across public and private spheres, which made it possible to innovate quickly and improve our collective safety and strategic autonomy.”

"SpainSat NG represents the next generation of secure satellite communications in Europe. This launch marks a key milestone in providing more adaptable and secure communications services that will benefit governmental users across Europe and beyond," said Laurent Jaffart, ESA's Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications.