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Hisdesat strengthens the strategic capabilities of Spain’s Ministry of Defence with SpainSat NG III

July 31st, 2026

Hisdesat has signed a contract with Airbus Defence and Space in Spain and France, and with Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), in Spain and France, for the construction of SpainSat NG III, a new secure communications satellite that will strengthen the SPAINSAT NG Programme and ensure strategic autonomy in this domain.

Therefore Hisdesat reaffirms its commitment, within the framework of its public-private partnership with the Ministry of Defence, to guarantee the future availability of critical space capabilities for security and defence.

With a development timeline of 48 months, SpainSat NG III is scheduled for launch in the third quarter of 2030 and will become operational in early 2031. Together with SpainSat NG I, it will complete the architecture of the SPAINSAT NG Programme, the largest space project ever developed by the Spanish industry.

Currently, NATO, the European Union through the GOVSATCOM programme, and several allied governments are users of these new generation secure communication services.

Enhancements to the initial configuration

SpainSat NG III will replicate the model of its predecessors while incorporating several improvements. It will provide advanced capabilities in the X, military Ka and UHF bands, integrating state-of-the-art technologies that will enhance operational flexibility, increase available capacity, and strengthen protection against interference and electronic threats.

Its coverage area will extend from the United States and South America across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Combined with SpainSat NG I, the system’s overall coverage will reach as far as Singapore in Asia.

Participation of Spanish industry

The construction of SpainSat NG III will once again mobilise the Spanish and European space industries.

Hisdesat has appointed Airbus Defence and Space as the satellite’s prime contractor, leveraging the experience gained during the development of the SpainSat NG family. In addition to Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space as co-contractor, more than ten Spanish companies will contribute critical technologies for the development of the system, generating highly skilled employment and delivering significant technological returns for the country

The Spanish industry will provide the communications payloads, including the integration of the Communications Module by Thales Alenia Space in Spain, further consolidating national capabilities in secure communications payloads. Airbus in Spain will be responsible for the X-band payload, while Thales Alenia Space in Spain will develop the UHF and military Ka-band payloads.

Hisdesat ensures therefore the continuity of a strategic programme for the defence of Spain and its allies, while reaffirming its confidence in the Spanish space industry, which is already recognised internationally as a benchmark in secure satellite communications.