Space42 and ICEYE have successfully launched three new Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites — Foresight-3, Foresight-4, and Foresight-5 — marking a significant expansion of the UAE’s Earth Observation (EO) capabilities.

The satellites were launched into low Earth orbit aboard SpaceX’s Bandwagon-4 mission from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and were integrated by Exolaunch. All three satellites have established communication and begun initial operational routines.

“Expanding the Foresight Constellation to five satellites in just over one year demonstrates our commitment to operating as a center of excellence for space innovation, and enhances the space ecosystem we are developing, which can scale globally from Abu Dhabi. By combining sovereign capability with global collaboration, together with ICEYE, we deliver intelligence that matters across industries and borders,” Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Smart Solutions at Space42, said.

Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-founder of ICEYE, added: “Working with Space42 demonstrates how ICEYE’s technology and operational expertise can help partners establish sovereign satellite capabilities. By launching mid-inclination SAR satellites, we are enabling Space42 to deliver persistent coverage across key regions at middle latitudes.”

The Foresight Constellation’s defining strength lies in its ability to produce ultra-high-resolution geospatial intelligence. Operating at a 25-centimeter resolution, it enables GIQ to deliver continuous visibility and rapid, data-driven insights — enhancing daily revisit rates, improving change detection, and accelerating intelligence delivery.

SAR technology has already demonstrated its value in real-world applications — from verifying the structural integrity of Turkey’s Atatürk Dam after the 2023 earthquake to monitoring the UAE’s record flooding in 2024. The global SAR market, valued at $5.8 billion, is projected to reach $9.8 billion by 2030, driven by the technology’s ability to improve emergency response times by up to 90% and reduce maintenance and operational costs across industries.

Reflecting the UAE’s collaborative approach to innovation, the Foresight satellites were manufactured in Finland, tested and integrated for the first time in Abu Dhabi at Space42’s Space Systems Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) facility, and launched from the United States. This distributed manufacturing model underscores Abu Dhabi’s growing position as a global hub for the space industry.