A Major Step Forward in European Defence Space Innovation
EmTroniX is proud to announce its involvement in the newly signed VLEO‑DEF project, a landmark European Defence Agency (EDA) research and technology initiative focused on developing Europe’s first military satellite concept designed specifically for Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). The contract, valued at €15.65 million, was signed on 13 March 2026, launching a 30‑month programme dedicated to advancing next‑generation defence‑space technologies.
Why VLEO Matters for Defence
VLEO—an orbital region between 250 and 350 km—offers key operational advantages such as higher‑resolution Earth observation and reduced communication latency, both essential for modern defence applications. Operating at this altitude also introduces significant engineering challenges, including atmospheric drag, atomic oxygen erosion, and the need for high‑precision attitude control, all of which the VLEO‑DEF consortium aims to overcome.
A Strong European Consortium with Complementary Expertise
The VLEO‑DEF project brings together a uniquely diverse and highly capable team from across Europe. Led by the Spanish aerospace engineering company SENER, the consortium unites 17 organisations whose strengths span satellite design, propulsion, materials research, advanced avionics, and mission operations. From Spain come DEIMOS, Airbus Defence and Space, and SATLANTIS, bringing deep heritage in mission architecture and Earth‑observation payloads. Portugal contributes innovation through INEGI, GEOSAT, and OMNIDEA, each adding expertise in engineering, modelling, and platform technologies.
Luxembourg—one of the five participating Member States—plays an especially active role, with INTEGRASYS, SPARC Industries, LIST, Rafinex, GRADEL, GomSpace, and EmTroniX itself providing capabilities ranging from advanced manufacturing to simulation, materials resilience, and avionics. They are joined by France’s Exotrail and Thales Alenia Space France, bringing propulsion and spacecraft‑system heritage, and Slovenia’s SkyLabs, known for compact, radiation‑tolerant space electronics.
Together, this multinational team forms a cohesive European ecosystem—each partner contributing a vital piece of the technological puzzle needed to pioneer sustained operations in Very Low Earth Orbit.
EmTroniX’s Role: Developing the On‑Board Computer
As part of the consortium, EmTroniX will design and develop the mission’s On‑Board Computer (OBC)—a critical subsystem that must meet the demanding requirements of sustained operations in VLEO. The OBC will be engineered to deliver reliability, environmental resilience, and optimal performance within this challenging orbital regime.
This contribution reinforces EmTroniX’s position as a leading provider of advanced avionics and embedded electronics for the European space sector.
Strengthening Europe’s Sovereign Space Capabilities
The VLEO‑DEF programme represents a strategic investment by EDA and participating Member States to advance Europe’s autonomous defence‑space capabilities and prepare for a future in‑orbit demonstration of VLEO technologies.
EmTroniX is honoured to contribute to this high‑impact European initiative and looks forward to collaborating with partners across the continent as the project progresses.