In a significant expansion of European defense cooperation, Thales Alenia Space, Airbus Defence and Space, and Poland’s RADMOR signed an industrial agreement Monday to develop a dedicated geostationary telecommunications satellite for the Polish Ministry of Defense.
The signing ceremony took place in Gdańsk, Poland, on April 20, attended by Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin during a bilateral fellowship summit.
Alignment with the European Readiness 2030 Strategy
The satellite project is a central pillar of Poland’s national space sovereignty and aligns with the European Commission’s Readiness 2030 plan established in 2025. This initiative emphasizes the development of resilient, end-to-end communication systems capable of maintaining secure links during high-intensity conflicts and within contested orbital environments. The new geostationary asset will provide the Polish Armed Forces with a cyber-secured space segment integrated with a robust ground infrastructure designed to resist modern electronic warfare and jamming threats.
The partnership leverages the specific technical strengths of each entity to ensure a redundant and survivable system. Thales Alenia Space and Airbus will contribute their extensive experience in military communications payloads and geostationary satellite bus design, while RADMOR, a division of the WB GROUP, will focus on secure ground segments and the specialized integration required for Poland’s domestic defense ecosystem.
Strategic Impact on Regional Sovereignty
“We are starting a new chapter in European space cooperation on a scale that will enable the delivery of a reliable system for the Polish Armed Forces,” stated Bartłomiej Zając, CEO of RADMOR. “Today’s battlefield is already closely integrated with space infrastructure; therefore, extending RADMOR’s competencies into satellite communications ensures seamless, secure, and resilient connectivity across all operational domains.“
Hervé Derrey, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space, reinforced the importance of the project in strengthening the broader European defense posture. He noted that the geostationary satellite would embody the highest standards of anti-jamming and cybersecurity, reflecting a commitment to building a safer and better-connected continent through cross-border innovation.
Future Milestones and Industrialization
Following this agreement, the consortium will move into the detailed design and mission control planning phases. The project marks a major milestone for RADMOR, signaling its formal entry into space-based communications after decades as a provider of terrestrial military-grade radios. The partners intend to develop a high-degree of industrial interoperability between French and Polish facilities, ensuring that the resulting system remains compliant with the evolving standards of NATO and the European Union for the next decade.
