European Defence Agency Selects Sener to Head Strategic VLEO Satellite Initiative Strengthening Europe’s Space Capabilities

European Defence Agency Selects Sener to Head Strategic VLEO Satellite Initiative Strengthening Europe’s Space Capabilities

(IN BRIEF) Sener has been selected by the European Defence Agency to lead the VLEO-DEF project, a €15.65 million initiative aimed at developing Europe’s first defence satellite concept designed for very low Earth orbit. Funded by five EU member states and involving a consortium of 17 organisations, the project will address the technical challenges of operating satellites at altitudes of 250 to 350 kilometres, including atmospheric drag and propulsion requirements. VLEO offers significant advantages for defence applications such as high-resolution imaging and low-latency communications, and the programme will lay the foundation for future demonstration missions. The initiative supports Europe’s broader strategy to strengthen its space-based defence capabilities and technological independence.

(PRESS RELEASE) MADRID, 25-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Sener, an engineering and technology group, has been appointed to lead a European consortium tasked with designing the continent’s first defence satellite concept tailored for operations in very low Earth orbit (VLEO). The initiative, commissioned by the European Defence Agency (EDA), represents a major step forward in advancing Europe’s space-based defence capabilities within a challenging orbital environment ranging between 250 and 350 kilometres above Earth.

The project, named VLEO-DEF, has a total budget of €15.65 million and is scheduled to run over a period of 30 months. It is jointly funded by five EU member states—Spain, France, Luxembourg, Portugal and Slovenia—reflecting a collaborative effort to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy in defence and space technologies. The contract was formalised in March 2026.

Operating satellites in VLEO offers significant advantages for defence-related applications, particularly in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The closer proximity to Earth enables higher-resolution imaging and reduced communication delays, improving the effectiveness of data collection and real-time operations. However, these benefits come with substantial technical challenges, including increased atmospheric drag that requires advanced propulsion systems, innovative materials and specialised satellite designs to maintain stable orbits.

The VLEO-DEF programme aims to address these challenges by developing the necessary technologies and system concepts for sustained satellite operations in this demanding environment. The project will also lay the groundwork for a future in-orbit demonstration mission to validate the technologies under real operating conditions.

Sener will coordinate a consortium of 17 industrial partners and research organisations from across Europe. The group includes leading companies and institutions such as Indra, Deimos, Airbus and Satlantis from Spain; INEGI, GEOSAT and Omnidea from Portugal; Integrasys, SPARC, LIST, Rafinex, EmTroniX, GRADEL and GomSpace from Luxembourg; Exotrail and Thales Alenia from France; and Skylabs from Slovenia. Together, the consortium brings a broad range of expertise in satellite engineering, propulsion, materials science and space systems.

The project forms part of a broader European effort to enhance defence capabilities in space, building on previous initiatives led by the EDA. By advancing technologies for very low Earth orbit, the programme is expected to contribute to more capable, responsive and resilient space-based defence systems in the future.

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SOURCE: Sener Group