Greece is acquiring three new ultra-high-resolution optical satellites through the “HELLAS–SPACE 2.0” National Space Program. The Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence launched the first public tender with a budget of €69 million ($71.76 million). The project develops a national constellation of three Earth Observation satellites to boost Greek autonomy in satellite data access.
The European Space Agency (ESA) runs the tender alongside the ministry and the Hellenic Space Center (HSC). This marks the first bidding phase of the €350 million ($364 million) program, expanding Greece’s initial microsatellite initiative. Interested contractors must submit their final bids by December 23, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
Boosting civil protection and maritime surveillance
The new satellite system will capture images with a spatial resolution of up to 30 centimeters.
According to the ministry, the infrastructure will frequently monitor Greek territory and the wider Mediterranean region. State agencies will use these images for civil protection, environmental monitoring, and territorial surveillance without relying on third-party providers.
The satellites will rapidly map areas hit by wildfires, floods, and earthquakes to assess infrastructure damage. Furthermore, comparing images across different timeframes will help authorities detect illegal construction, land-use changes, and unauthorized landfills in protected zones.
In maritime surveillance, the Hellenic Coast Guard will combine optical images with navigation data to track vessels operating without identification signals (AIS). The ministry states this capability will help combat illegal fishing and investigate suspicious maritime activities. The contract covers satellite design, construction, testing, launch, orbital delivery, and ground control systems.
Scheduling three additional space tenders before year-end
The ministry plans to launch three more tenders under the “HELLAS–SPACE 2.0” framework before the end of 2026. Later in November 2026, officials will announce a second tender for Greek-owned thermal satellites.
These units will monitor environmental shifts and detect active fire fronts even during nighttime hours. Two final tenders will follow before December 31. One covers radio-frequency detection microsatellites to help locate dark vessels at sea. The final tender secures space situational awareness systems to monitor orbital hazards threatening Greek space infrastructure.
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