Rafael and Reflex Aerospace partner on 30 cm imaging constellation, first launch 2027
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems · Reflex Aerospace
The Israeli defence company and German manufacturer co-fund a very-high-resolution, high-revisit satellite line, per their release.
what happened
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Reflex Aerospace announced a strategic co-development partnership at ILA Berlin 2026, introducing a Very High Resolution and Very High Revisit satellite constellation class they call VHR2C, per the joint release carried by ASDNews and on Reflex's site. The system pairs Rafael's up to 30 cm electro-optical payload, which the companies say is already operational with heritage from eight electro-optical missions, with Reflex's satellite bus and Rafael's electric propulsion; the companies say they have co-funded the development and schedule the first satellite for launch as early as Q4 2027. No constellation size was stated.
why it matters
A commercial Israeli-German industrial pairing aimed at the sovereign intelligence-imagery market that ICEYE and Airbus currently split in Europe: Rafael brings a flown sub-30 cm payload, Reflex brings serial bus production in Germany. If the Q4 2027 satellite flies, European governments get another non-US option for very-high-resolution tasking, and Reflex graduates from bus maker to constellation co-owner.
for who
EO operators and resellers, European defence imagery buyers
signal-to-noise
quick facts
- Companies
- Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Reflex Aerospace
- Category
- partnership
- Impact
- notable
- SNR
- 4 / 5
- Event date
- 2026-06-11
- Published
- 2026-07-08 12:35 UTC