Airbus Defence and Space Designated Prime Contractor for Spainsat NG-III Satellite
Airbus Defence and Space has been designated prime contractor by Hisdesat to develop and build SpainSat NG-III, a secure communications satellite equipped with advanced technological capabilities. The programme extends the SpainSat NG constellation, complementing worldwide defence and government coverage.
Airbus in Charge of Satellite Design and Integration
Airbus Defence and Space will act as prime contractor for the design, integration and testing of SpainSat NG-III at its facilities. The satellite builds on the technological heritage of the SpainSat NG family, incorporating significant improvements compared to its predecessors. Thales Alenia Space in Spain will participate in the programme by taking responsibility for military UHF and Ka-band payloads.
Enhanced Technical Capabilities and Most Demanding NATO Standards
SpainSat NG-III integrates advanced X-band active antennas offering the capacity of 16 traditional antennas, with coverage reconfiguration up to 1,000 times per second and high-precision electromagnetic interference mitigation. The satellite incorporates enhanced resilience elements capable of withstanding high-altitude nuclear events and electromagnetic pulses, meeting the strictest NATO standards in electromagnetic intelligence, anti-jamming and anti-spoofing.
Worldwide Geographic Coverage in Coordination with SpainSat NG-I
The operational coverage of SpainSat NG-III extends from North and South America through Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Combined with SpainSat NG-I, launched in 2025, the constellation covers two-thirds of the Earth's surface, strengthening Spanish and European strategic autonomy for critical mission command communications in defence and governmental operations.
