Rheinmetall and ICEYE Form Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions
On 7 November 2025, Rheinmetall and ICEYE officially established their joint venture, Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions. The new company combines German defence technology expertise with Finnish innovation in satellite-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging.
Joint Venture Agreement
The contract establishing the partnership was signed in Berlin by Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger and ICEYE CEO and co-founder Rafał Modrzewski. This followed a prior announcement in May 2025 that such a collaboration was in progress.
Ownership and Operations
The new venture is headquartered in Neuss, Germany, with Rheinmetall holding 60% of the shares and ICEYE retaining 40%. Operations are set to begin before the end of 2025, and the first satellite is expected to be produced locally in 2026.
Strategic Purpose
Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions was created in response to a growing global demand for reliable space-based reconnaissance capabilities for military and security purposes. SAR technology enables operators to capture high-resolution imagery irrespective of weather or light conditions, providing tactical advantages over conventional systems.
ICEYE, which manages the world’s largest SAR satellite constellation, already supplies reconnaissance imagery that assists Ukraine’s defence against Russian invasion.
Partnership Impact
The partnership strengthens Europe’s defence sector by combining Rheinmetall’s manufacturing scale with ICEYE’s advanced imaging technologies, addressing urgent needs for independent and resilient satellite reconnaissance.
Author’s summary: The Rheinmetall and ICEYE joint venture unites European defence and satellite imaging strengths to meet the surging demand for precise, all-weather space surveillance.