Europe is fighting against time for its own reconnaissance systems. Polish company in the spotlight

Does Europe have a chance to engage in an equal fight with the United States and China to develop its own satellite network? Just a few months ago, at least in the NATO bloc, the development of systems for observing the earth from space took place in full cooperation…

- Is Europe far behind these countries? No, not entirely. It is a bit asleep and has just woken up. We live in a time when intelligence and space capabilities have turned out to be crucial. It is worth having them of our own, sovereign and under full control. Until now, it was an element of the Euro-Atlantic puzzle, and now we have to prove to ourselves that we have our own systems , under our own control. And this is happening - argued Witold Witkowicz, Managing Director of the Polish-Finnish ICEYE.

The European Union needs what has proven effective in Ukraine

ICEYE is one of the main European producers of microsatellites , which are already widely used to manage the situation on the front in Ukraine .

Witkowicz pointed to the decision to build their own, secure network of such devices as a success in changing the perception of European leaders.

- This type of communication constellation has already been organized by the European Commission - IRIS2. Now there is a discussion at the European level about the European reconnaissance constellation, which is what my company is doing, among other things. This will be a very serious discussion that will take place over the next few months . I hope that Europe will make this joint effort to build it, because as the Ukrainian experience shows - having effective, own reconnaissance systems is a key advantage on the battlefield - said the manager from ICEYE in an interview conducted during the European Economic Congress in Katowice .

Between a Rock and a Hard Place? The European Space Industry Is Alone... But It's a Big Chance

Witkowicz emphasized that similar constellations – created from hundreds of satellites – are already being built in China and the United States. It is difficult – from the information available in official circulation – to assess which country is currently more advanced in this process. However, the fight between the two blocks means that companies with European roots are gaining in importance .

- The geopolitical situation means that our capabilities are perceived much more clearly by various countries. This applies to NATO countries, those on the Arabian Peninsula and those located on the South China Sea . We are seeing an increase in interest in our solutions - added the managing director of this Polish-Finnish space company.

Witkowicz pointed out that Polish industry has a chance to gain a lot, but without broad cooperation between the countries of our continent, little will be achieved.

- No single country in Europe, apart from France, is able to build such potential that would meet global security needs. Synergy between different countries in Europe is needed to create an effective security infrastructure with a joint financial effort - he appealed.