The Ministry of Defence on Friday authorised the Finnish Defence Forces to place an order to buy a satellite remote sensing system from the Finnish company Iceye Oy, said the Ministry in a press release.
The overall value of the procurement without value added tax is about EUR 158 million.
The procurement will include options that enable the Finnish Defence Forces to extend the satellites' lifecycle and to expand the system.
The employment effect of the contract in Finland will be about 36 person-years.
The procurement is based on a letter of intent signed between the Ministry of Defence and Iceye Oy in June.
It comprises satellites and related technical arrangements and equipment that enable the Finnish Defence Forces to develop its independent surveillance capability in space.
By collaborating with a Finnish company, the Defence Forces can deploy the capability swiftly and develop it further later on.
"This authorisation will set in motion the building of an independent space surveillance capability for Finland's defence. It is a historic first step for the development of our defence capability, and it also has wider importance for industry and technology," said Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen in the press release.
Iceye satellites can collect images and monitor any location on earth in all weather and lighting conditions. The data generated by the satellites can also be used by other authorities.
- Defence Forces
- Satellites
- €158m
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
