Spain has marked a major milestone in its space and defence capabilities with the successful launch of SpainSat NG-II, the second of two next-generation secure communications satellites built by
Airbus. The launch took place at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, completing the SpainSat NG programme — hailed as the most ambitious space initiative in the country’s history and the most advanced Government communications system in Europe.
Led by Hisdesat on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Defence, the programme is set to deliver strategic communications infrastructure not only for Spain’s Armed Forces but also for international partners including the European Commission under the GOVSATCOM initiative, NATO, and other allied governments. Operational service is expected to begin in spring 2026, when both satellites will work in tandem to provide secure, sovereign communications.
SpainSat NG-II joins its twin, launched earlier in January, in orbit. Together, they represent a leap forward in European satellite communications. The second satellite underwent final integration, testing, and validation at Airbus facilities in Toulouse before being shipped to Florida in September for launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
Raquel González Sola, head of space systems at Airbus in Spain, said: “Secure satellite communications play an increasingly important role in operating effectively in multiple fields, including military operations and humanitarian relief and rescue missions. With SpainSat NG, Spain will be at the forefront of Europe and among one of the few countries in the world with access to the most secure communications networks, providing our country and its allies with sovereignty and strategic autonomy.”
Built on the Airbus Eurostar Neo platform, SpainSat NG-II is a six-ton spacecraft measuring approximately seven metres in height. It features a cutting-edge payload that includes an X-band active receive and transmit antenna system, capable of delivering the functionality of 16 traditional antennas. This technology ensures robust and adaptable communications for military and governmental missions, with the ability to reconfigure coverage up to 1,000 times per sec. The satellite also boasts advanced anti-jamming capabilities, including geolocation of interference sources and protection against nuclear electromagnetic pulses.
Notably, around half of the satellite’s payload was designed and manufactured by Spain’s own space industry, led by Airbus. The active antenna technology was developed under the Pacis 3 ESA-Hisdesat Partnership, part of the ESA ARTES programme, with support from the Spanish Space Agency. With SpainSat NG-II now in orbit, Spain reinforces its position as a leader in secure satellite communications, setting a benchmark for European defense and space collaboration.