Italy seeks new GEO and LEO satellites in latest defence budget

A new GEO satellite will be procured to replace SICRAL1 and provide continuity in SHF services. (Thales Alenia Space)

The Italian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is seeking new geostationary (GEO) and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to increase the resilience of its armed forces under the latest Documento Programmatico Pluriennale (Multi-year Planning Document, DPP) 2023–2025, published on 16 October.

The largest planned space programme in the planning document is for a constellation of high-performance communications and data relay satellites. Situated in LEO, the constellation aims to increase the resilience of communications networks as well as provide innovative telecommunications services to the armed forces to support digitalisation. To support tactical missions, a data exchange network between government satellites will be established.. A total of EUR900 million (USD950.11 million) is forecasted over a five-year period, although, only next year’s budget has so far been approved (EUR5 million).