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ICEYE Launches High-Performance ‘Gen4 Satellite’ for Commercial Operations.

Science and Technology | Dated: 12 Sep 2025

In September 2025, Finland-based ICEYE, a global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations, announced the launch of its 4th-Generation 'Gen4' satellite for commercial operations. These satellites deliver the highest-fidelity commercial SAR imagery worldwide, redefining imaging standards for defence and government applications.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - The first wave of ICEYE’s Gen4 satellites was launched in March 2025 under SpaceX TR-13 mission, marking the beginning of a new era in high-performance SAR satellite technology. The September 2025 deployment has now made Gen4 satellites commercially operational.
  • - Gen4 satellites provide SAR imagery with an unprecedented resolution of up to 16 centimeters (cm), the highest commercially available globally. Additionally, they feature an expanded high-resolution coverage area of 400 kilometers (km), a 250% increase from earlier 150 km coverage.
  • - Each Gen4 satellite is capable of capturing a maximum of 500 images per day, with up to half of them concentrated within a 2,000 km-wide region per orbit. This ensures continuous, wide-scale earth monitoring with high frequency.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) The satellites support simultaneous imaging and downlinking at a maximum speed of 700 Mbps, enabling tasking, acquisition, and delivery within the same orbit pass. This real-time monitoring capability strengthens national security and emergency response.
  • (ii) Gen4 imagery powers ICEYE’s Detect & Classify product, which employs Artificial Intelligence (AI) to automatically identify vessels, aircraft, and vehicles with over 90% accuracy. It is offered as a sovereign solution exempt from International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), supporting governments worldwide.
  • (iii) Designed for large-scale constellation deployment, Gen4 satellites significantly enhance imaging throughput and per-pass image count. Their advanced capabilities are particularly valuable in the defence sector, boosting surveillance, reconnaissance, and national security operations.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Which country’s company recently launched the 4th-Generation ‘Gen4’ satellite for commercial operations in September 2025?

Correct Answer: Finland

🚀 Quick Recap:

About Finland

  • President: Alexander Stubb
  • Prime minister: Petteri Orpo