Farnborough 2026: Swedish Air Force details space programme

The SwAF's first ISR satellite, from Planet Labs, was launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Base in California on 3 May 2026. (Planet Labs)

Admiral Anders Sundeman, the Swedish Armed Forces' head of space, detailed his domain's procurement plans on the eve of the Farnborough International Airshow being held on 20-24 July. He briefed journalists including from Janes attending a Swedish Air Force Fan Club (SAFF) event in London on 19 July on the development of Sweden's space domain under the Swedish Air Force (SwAF).

Adm Sundeman spoke of rapid development in three areas: intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) satellites; achieving space domain awareness; and establishing a national launch capability.

He said Sweden was procuring up to 10 ISR satellites, split evenly between optical satellites from US company Planet Labs and synthetic aperture radar satellites from Finnish company Iceye. The first satellite, from Planet Labs, which Adm Sundeman said was the size of a washing machine, was launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Base in California on 3 May 2026. According to Adm Sundeman, this was four years earlier than originally planned and will be followed by an Iceye satellite launch during the fourth quarter of 2026.

He said this was made possible by a fast procurement launched in June 2025 and the signing of contracts with Planet Labs and Iceye in December 2025. He added that the contracts were for the whole system, including ground control stations and transmissions. He described the satellites as robust but not offensive.