Airbus Signs €345M Deal for Sentinel-1 NG Radar Instruments

Airbus has been awarded a €345 million contract by Thales Alenia Space to supply two advanced C-band radar instruments for the Copernicus Sentinel-1 Next Generation constellation.

This article was drafted with AI assistance from multiple sources and was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication.

Airbus has signed a €345 million contract with Thales Alenia Space to deliver two advanced C-band radar instruments for the upcoming Sentinel-1 Next Generation (NG) constellation, the company announced at the ILA Berlin air show.

The contract, awarded by Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor, covers the development and production of the radar payloads. The Sentinel-1 NG mission is designed to succeed the current Sentinel-1 satellites, which have been providing continuous Earth observation data since 2014. The new instruments will feature enhanced resolution and broader coverage, supporting applications such as maritime surveillance, land-use monitoring, and disaster response.

This deal reinforces Airbus's expertise in radar technology and its commitment to the Copernicus program, a joint initiative of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission. The instruments are expected to be delivered within the next few years, with the first satellite launch targeted for the late 2020s.