Spain Accelerates €65.8 Million to Fund PAZ 2 Spy Satellites

Spain approved Hisdesat's request to advance €65.8 million ahead of schedule from a €1 billion loan allocated for the PAZ 2 satellite program, bringing the 2026 allocation to €245.6 million from €179.8 million, according to the European Spaceflight platform.

The platform stated that the accelerated amount was simultaneously reduced from the 2029 allocation, meaning a redistribution of funding across years without changing the total.

The program will provide two radar remote sensing satellites with a resolution "better than 25 centimeters," designated primarily for the Spanish Armed Forces, with a target to reach operational readiness by 2031.

Airbus had become the prime contractor for the program in July 2025, according to the same source.

What do these terms mean?

Radar Sensing: Imaging the Earth's surface using radar waves, working at night, through dust, and clouds.

Image Resolution: The smallest detail the satellite can detect; the smaller the number, the clearer the image.

Operational Readiness: The stage at which the satellite becomes ready to actually deliver its service.

Prime Contractor: The company responsible for managing the project, coordinating suppliers, and executing it.