Overview
- Three UK-built Azalea radio-frequency satellites launched on 28 November via SpaceX’s Transporter‑15 rideshare through Exolaunch, with communications confirmed during the first three passes between 23:05 and 04:55 GMT.
- A Finnish ICEYE synthetic aperture radar satellite from the same launch joins the group to create a four‑spacecraft cluster for coordinated multi‑sensor operations.
- Each 150‑kilogram Azalea craft carries BAE’s Enhanced Software Defined Radio that uses AI to process RF and SAR data in orbit before transmitting derived intelligence to the ground.
- The formation will operate at roughly 350 miles in altitude with ~90‑minute orbits at about 7.6 km/s, using ultra‑wideband RF sensors to detect and geolocate signals over large areas.
- BAE plans near‑term demonstrations of RF–SAR data fusion and will work with defence and civil users on applications such as intelligence gathering, maritime monitoring and disaster‑response support.