Paz 2A, 2B

Paz 2 [Airbus]

The PAZ-2 program comprises two advanced X-band radar Earth observation satellites developed for the Spanish Ministry of Defence. Built by Airbus Defence and Space under contract with Hisdesat, the PAZ-2 satellites are designed to ensure continuity of the existing PAZ mission and enhance Spain’s military and civilian remote sensing capabilities.

PAZ-2 aims to reinforce the strategic Earth observation capacity of the Spanish Armed Forces and provide high-resolution radar imaging for a broad range of applications. The satellites will contribute to intelligence and surveillance tasks and serve civilian needs in infrastructure monitoring, border control, environmental risk assessment, and disaster response. Operating in X-band, they will be capable of acquiring radar imagery independently of weather conditions and daylight, ensuring consistent data availability.

The satellites will deliver significantly improved imaging performance compared to the original PAZ satellite, increasing resolution to below 25 cm and expanding daily coverage to 6.7 million km² per satellite. Each satellite will complete 16 orbits per day, enabling near-real-time monitoring capabilities over large geographic areas.

Airbus Defence and Space serves as the prime contractor for the PAZ-2 program. The satellites will be developed, assembled, and tested at Airbus facilities in Getafe, Spain. The program includes the participation of more than 15 Spanish companies, with approximately 65% of the satellite content produced domestically. The development effort will leverage Airbus's expertise in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems, particularly in high-resolution and wide-swath imaging using X-band frequencies.

PAZ-2 will employ advanced SAR technology with improved image quality and sub-25 cm resolution. The system will be capable of capturing radar imagery continuously, 24 hours per day, in all weather conditions. The satellites are designed for high revisit rates and broad area coverage, with each platform covering up to 6.7 million km² per day. Operating in sun-synchronous orbit, the satellites will perform 16 orbits per day to support high-temporal-resolution data collection.

The PAZ-2 constellation will consist of two satellites. The first satellite is scheduled to enter operational service by mid-2031. Launch vehicles and exact launch dates have not been disclosed as of 2025. The program will ensure continuity with the PAZ mission, which has been operational since 2018, and will further strengthen Spain’s role in the European space and defence sector.