Portugal has commissioned two new Earth-observation satellites from Argentine company Satellogic, strengthening its space-based monitoring capabilities and contributing to a joint Iberian initiative aimed at expanding European-owned orbital infrastructure.
Satellogic said on Monday it had signed an $18 million contract with Portugal’s Centre of Engineering and Product Development (CEiiA) to build and deploy two NewSat Mark V satellites, with delivery scheduled for the second quarter of 2026. The satellites will be handed over to CEiiA once operational in orbit.
The two spacecraft are 50-centimetre-class optical imaging satellites and will form part of the Atlantic Constellation, a programme jointly developed by Portugal and Spain that ultimately aims to place eight small Earth-observation satellites into orbit.
Satellogic said around 85% of the components used in the satellites would be sourced from Europe, aligning the project with broader efforts by European governments to increase technological sovereignty in space systems and reduce reliance on non-European suppliers.
“Portugal and the Atlantic Constellation represent a forward-looking approach to resilient space-based intelligence,” Satellogic Chief Executive Emiliano Kargieman said in a statement. “CEiiA will benefit from the fastest EO capability deployments in the industry, backed by Satellogic’s proven manufacturing and operational track record.”
The agreement reflects Portugal’s growing investment in space activities. The country established its national space agency in 2019 and is increasing its role within the European Space Agency (ESA), to which it has been a full member since 2000. Portugal has committed €204.8 million ($238.9 million) to ESA for the 2026–2030 period, a 51% increase compared with the previous funding cycle.
Portugal has also been expanding its national satellite capabilities. Last month, the Portuguese Air Force signed an agreement with Finnish company ICEYE to acquire a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite, marking its first direct satellite purchase and another planned contribution to the Atlantic Constellation. CEiiA maintains a strategic cooperation agreement with the Air Force.
The Atlantic Constellation is intended to provide participating countries with independent access to high-resolution Earth-observation data for applications including environmental monitoring, maritime surveillance and civil protection.
