UAE’s Space42 successfully launched three Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites in its Earth Observation (EO) constellation – Foresight-3, Foresight-4, and Foresight-5 – into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
The Abu Dhabi-based AI-powered SpaceTech company said the three satellites were launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, USA. The satellites were aboard the Bandwagon-4 rideshare mission with SpaceX.
The spacecraft has established communication, and early routine operations are underway.
Following the launch of Foresight-1 in August 2024, Space 42 deployed Foresight-2 in January 2025. The Foresight Constellation combines SAR imagery and Space42’s AI platform, GIQ, to accelerate the delivery of decision-grade geospatial intelligence to governments, industries, and partners worldwide.
Benefits of SAR
With SAR systems, governments can accelerate emergency response by up to 90 per cent, infrastructure operators can reduce predictive maintenance costs by as much as 30 per cent, and enterprises can reduce operational inefficiencies by a quarter.
Across industries, the benefits of SAR constellations are tangible. It’s strategic value was demonstrated in Turkey in 2023, when it confirmed the safety of the Atatürk Dam after a major earthquake while all other monitoring systems failed, and in the UAE during the historic 2024 flooding.
These real-world cases illustrate why demand is accelerating. The global SAR market is projected to grow from $5.8 billion to $9.8 billion by 2030.
The Foresight EO Constellation places the UAE among only 20 countries worldwide that operate SAR space assets.
Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Smart Solutions at Space42, commented: “Expanding the Foresight Constellation to five satellites in just over one year demonstrates our commitment to operating as a centre of excellence for space innovation, and enhances the space ecosystem we are developing.
“By combining sovereign capability with global collaboration, together with ICEYE, we deliver intelligence that matters across industries and borders. Space42’s strategy is to lead the premium geospatial intelligence market, and today’s milestone is proof of execution at speed and scale.”
Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-founder of ICEYE, said: “Working with Space42 demonstrates how ICEYE’s technology and operational expertise can help partners establish sovereign satellite capabilities. By launching mid-inclination SAR satellites, we are enabling Space42 to deliver persistent coverage across key regions at middle latitudes.”
Space42 turning data into insight
The Earth Observation constellation’s key differentiator is its geospatial intelligence capability. Operating at 25-centimeter resolution enables GIQ to convert continuous visibility into real-time insights, delivered directly into decision workflows, with daily revisit rates, sharper detection of change, and lower latency in intelligence delivery.
Partnership is central to the UAE’s model of progress and to how Space42 operates. The satellites were produced in Finland, tested and integrated for the first time in Abu Dhabi at Space42’s Space Systems’ Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) facility, and launched from the United States. This model accelerates innovation, reinforcing Space42’s role as a global player in the space industry.
With Foresight-1 and Foresight-2 already in orbit, the addition of three new SAR satellites further strengthens decision accuracy and advances Space42’s Earth Observation programme towards full constellation maturity targeted for 2027.
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