Airbus has secured the contract to supply the main C-band synthetic aperture radar instruments for Europe’s Sentinel-1 Next Generation satellites, with the award tied to ILA Berlin. Thales Alenia Space remains prime contractor for the two-satellite Copernicus programme, while Airbus moves into the payload role on a package valued at about €700 million.
The deal keeps Airbus at the centre of Europe’s radar Earth-observation chain and confirms Thales Alenia Space’s systems integration lead. Sentinel-1 NG is set to replace the current Sentinel-1 fleet and lift imaging performance for Copernicus operators. For the sector, the contract signals continued procurement for high-end radar payloads and a clear division between instrument supply and prime assembly.
The next phase now turns on satellite build, payload integration and downstream schedule discipline.