Netherlands Enters Military Space Era with First SAR Satellite and New Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force
On 24 June 2025, at 23:26 CET, a rocket carrying the first operational SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite developed for the Dutch Armed Forces was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marking the beginning of a constellation of four SAR satellites to be launched over the next 18 months.
Unlike conventional satellites, the SAR unit can capture detailed radar imagery day and night, regardless of cloud cover, providing “eyes in space” for Defence. The satellite, built by Finnish manufacturer ICEYE, ensures independent global surveillance and enhances national security by allowing the military to detect threats behind enemy lines.
Lieutenant-General André Steur, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, highlighted how these satellites will deliver “real military capabilities,” enabling warning, understanding, prediction, and response — essential functions for both the armed forces and national security.
The launch also represents a key advance for the Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD), which will use the satellite data to monitor global threats, including cyber-attacks, sabotage, and disinformation campaigns — issues already underscored by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Dutch Air Force Transforms into Air and Space Warfare Command
Effective 1 July 2025, the “Commando Luchtstrijdkrachten” CLSK, or Royal Netherlands Air Force, officially rebranded as the “Commando Lucht- en Ruimtestrijdkrachten” (CLRS, in English: “Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force”) to reflect the growing importance of space in modern military strategy. Defence officials noted that geopolitical competition is increasingly extending beyond the skies into space, making surveillance, communications, and defence capabilities in Earth orbit critically crucial for the Netherlands and its NATO allies.
Strategic Shift: From Air to Multidomain Sovereignty
These twin developments — the SAR satellite deployment and restructuring under the CLRS — signal a clear strategic pivot for the Netherlands:
- Enhanced Sovereignty: The SAR constellation provides Defence with direct control over space-based reconnaissance, thereby reducing reliance on allied or commercial assets.
- Multidomain Integration: The new Air and Space Force aligns with modern doctrines, such as Multidomain Operations, by integrating air, space, cyber, and land forces under a single command.
- NATO & Intelligence Synergy: The satellite capability supports NATO missions and enhances the intelligence services’ ability to monitor threats, including cyber warfare, sabotage, and propaganda.
Lieutenant-General André Steur emphasised that these satellites will serve all branches of the Armed Forces once they are fully operational. It will take a few months post-launch to deploy solar panels and activate systems, but thereafter, all components of the Dutch military will integrate the data into their operations.
Catalyst for the Dutch Space ecosystem
Beyond Defence, this strategic move creates significant opportunities for the Dutch space ecosystem. The launch of the SAR satellite and the formation of the Air and Space Command serve as strong signals of national ambition, positioning the Netherlands as a serious player in the rapidly evolving space sector.
The military space programme will:
- Drive demand for advanced technologies in satellite design, miniaturisation, and data analytics;
- Open the door for dual-use innovation — where military and civilian applications co-evolve;
- Stimulate new ventures and startups in the field of Earth observation, security tech, and space-based services;
- Attract national and international partnerships to co-develop and scale space solutions.
This convergence of military investment and industry capability strengthens the Netherlands’ role within the European and global space economy, while contributing to job creation, research and development, and long-term technological leadership.
As the ecosystem that connects government, startups, research institutes, and established space companies, NL Space Campus stands to benefit from increased collaboration, investment, and development activity.
Next Steps and the Road Ahead
- Three additional SAR satellites are scheduled for launch over the next 18 months;
- The satellites are expected to operate for approximately five years each;
- Initiatives like the Dutch company ISISPACE’s LEO2VLEO, Europe’s first military satellite constellation, enable manoeuvrability between LEO and VLEO for greater agility, imaging, and crisis response.
- Dutch company FSO Instruments and partners are key players in developing the PAMI-1 satellite, strengthening the Netherlands’ space-based intelligence.
- The Defence Space Security Centre (DSSC) and MIVD will further develop the ground infrastructure and analytical capabilities;
- The CLRS transformation enables more agile, integrated, and mission-ready operations across air and space domains;
In Summary
The June launch of the first Dutch operational SAR satellite, coupled with the Air Force’s transformation into the Air and Space Warfare Command, marks a pivotal moment in the Netherlands’ Defence and space policy. It secures sovereign surveillance, embraces multidomain readiness, and boosts NATO-aligned strategy.
Crucially, it also energises the Dutch space ecosystem enabling innovation, partnerships, and new business opportunities in a sector that is central to future global competitiveness.