Airbus and Hisdesat Sign a Commercialisation Agreement for PAZ-2 Satellite Imagery

Why It Matters

The enhanced SAR capabilities will boost Europe’s strategic intelligence assets while opening high‑value commercial opportunities in infrastructure monitoring and disaster response.

Key Takeaways

• PAZ‑2 offers 10 cm SAR resolution
• Daily coverage reaches 6.7 million km² per satellite
• Five‑minute latency enables near‑real‑time imagery
• Partnership expands commercial SAR market with TerraSAR‑X
• First satellite entering service mid‑2031

Pulse Analysis

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is experiencing rapid adoption across defence, security and civil sectors, driven by its all‑weather, day‑and‑night imaging capability. Airbus Defence and Space’s alliance with Hisdesat positions Europe at the forefront of this trend, leveraging the PAZ‑2 constellation to deliver unprecedented image fidelity. By integrating advanced antenna designs and on‑board processing, PAZ‑2 achieves 10 cm ground resolution—comparable to optical systems—while covering 6.7 million square kilometres daily, a scale that rivals the combined output of many existing SAR fleets.

The technical leap of PAZ‑2 extends beyond resolution. A five‑minute latency pipeline transforms raw radar returns into actionable products almost instantly, a critical advantage for time‑sensitive missions such as border surveillance, rapid disaster assessment, and tactical battlefield intelligence. The 500 km swath width further ensures broad area monitoring with fewer passes, reducing revisit times and operational costs. These capabilities complement the existing TerraSAR‑X/TanDEM‑X constellation, creating a seamless European SAR network that can serve both national defence ministries and commercial clients seeking high‑precision terrain data.

From a business perspective, the commercialisation agreement unlocks new revenue streams for Airbus and Hisdesat, while reinforcing Spain’s strategic autonomy in space. The 65 % national participation underscores a policy shift toward domestic expertise and supply‑chain resilience. As global demand for high‑resolution SAR data surges—particularly in infrastructure monitoring, insurance underwriting, and climate‑risk modelling—the PAZ‑2 programme offers a competitive edge. Its mid‑2031 entry into service will likely catalyse further collaborations, stimulate ancillary services, and solidify Europe’s position in the lucrative SAR market.

Airbus and Hisdesat sign a commercialisation agreement for PAZ-2 satellite imagery

Madrid, Spain / Brussels, Belgium, 28 January 2026

Airbus Defence and Space and Hisdesat have agreed to prolong and expand their long‑standing and successful collaboration in the international radar Earth‑observation market with the signing of an agreement to commercialise imagery and applications from the future PAZ‑2 radar satellites.

The agreement, formalised during the European Space Conference in Brussels (Belgium), extends the existing partnership for the commercialisation of radar imagery from the PAZ satellite in constellation with the German TerraSAR‑X / TanDEM‑X satellites, an alliance first established in 2018.

“This partnership aims to push the boundaries of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)‑based Earth observation and provide innovative solutions to meet growing global demand for both military and commercial markets,” said Eric Even, Head of Space Digital at Airbus Defence and Space.

Miguel Ángel García Primo, CEO of Hisdesat, indicated that reinforcing this commercial alliance “will ensure the continuity of the excellent work carried out since 2018 between the Hisdesat and Airbus teams” and “will drive the penetration of SAR imagery—capable of performing in any weather condition—compared to other Earth‑observation tools”.

Led by the Spanish Ministry of Defence and Hisdesat, PAZ‑2 is one of the most advanced Earth‑observation programmes in the world. It consists of twin satellites that will replace the current PAZ satellite, in service since 2018, ensuring and enhancing the current capabilities. The PAZ‑2 programme is funded by the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tourism and will provide radar imagery and services primarily to the Spanish Ministry of Defence.

In July 2025, Hisdesat awarded Airbus Defence and Space the contract for the manufacture of these two new satellites.

The PAZ‑2 satellites are scheduled to fly in constellation and will integrate advanced technologies enabling unprecedented image quality with an improved resolution of up to 10 centimetres. They will also increase coverage to 6.7 million km² per day per satellite, offering a maximum image swath width of 500 km.

To meet the requirements of urgent operations, the PAZ‑2 mission will provide reliable near‑real‑time services, with a latency from acquisition to availability of only five minutes.

These enhancements will strengthen intelligence and surveillance capabilities for defence and security missions, as well as civil applications in infrastructure monitoring, risk management, border control, and disaster assessment. The first of the PAZ‑2 satellites is expected to enter service by mid‑2031.

This next‑generation Earth‑observation programme consolidates the leadership of the Spanish space industry, with 65 % national participation under the direction of Airbus Defence and Space, which serves as the prime contractor for the space segment.

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