10 February 2025 – Airbus has been awarded the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Oberon contract to design and build two Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites with day-and-night, all-weather, space-based ‘Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance’ (ISR) capability. The two Oberon satellites will boast active, ultra-high resolution SAR, providing freedom of action to the UK MOD and a greater operational capability to British and allied defence forces. The satellites will be designed, built and tested at Airbus’ space facilities in Stevenage and Portsmouth and secure scores of high-value jobs. The supporting satellite ground segment and geospatial intelligence capabilities will be developed at Airbus’ facilities in Guildford, Newcastle, Newport and Chippenham. The system is expected to launch in 2027 and will contribute to UK information and decision superiority. Read more