Fast, precise, cost-effective: OHB Sweden, a subsidiary of the space technology group OHB, has won a major contract worth EUR 248 million for the development and construction of 20 small satellites. These satellites will form the new European satellite constellation known as the “EUMETSAT Polar System-Sterna,” or EPS-Sterna for short. The basis for this is the Arctic Weather Satellite (AWS), which OHB Sweden successfully launched into orbit as a demonstrator over a year ago. The subsidiary of OHB SE developed the small satellite on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA) in record time using a deliberately chosen New Space approach. Only three years elapsed between the award of the contract and the launch. For the first time, the Swedish space company will now build a large constellation.
“OHB Sweden has developed a high-performance satellite in an exceptionally short time and demonstrated what is possible with clear objectives. We can do New Space—the Arctic Weather Satellite, which now forms the basis of a large constellation, has impressively proven this,” said OHB CEO Marco Fuchs on the occasion of the contract award. “We are proud of our team in Sweden and grateful for the trust of our partners, who believe in our ability to build a large satellite constellation. I am delighted that with EPS-Sterna we are strengthening Europe’s leading position in Earth observation and that Sweden is receiving the largest satellite contract in its space history to date.”
Why EPS-Sterna is crucial
The polar regions play a central role in global climate patterns, yet they remain underserved in terms of weather data because geostationary weather satellites cannot cover high latitudes. The AWS demonstrator has shown how a small satellite equipped with a microwave radar can provide precise temperature and humidity profiles of the atmosphere—even through dense clouds and extreme polar weather conditions.
To provide weather services with reliable data continuity, EPS-Sterna will consist of three generations, each comprising six small satellites. ESA is developing the program on behalf of EUMETSAT. The goal is a continuous data stream from the Arctic. These measurements are essential for faster and more accurate weather forecasts and are also needed to improve global climate models.
Largest satellite contract to date for Sweden's space industry
“This contract represents an extraordinary milestone for OHB Sweden and for the entire Swedish space community. We built the precursor satellite for this constellation, the Arctic Weather Satellite, and demonstrated the satellite’s operational capability as well as the quality of the data it collects to improve European weather forecasting. The EPS Sterna contract demonstrates that we and our partners are ready to take a leading role in strengthening critical space infrastructure for Europe,” said Fredrik Sjöberg, Managing Director of OHB Sweden.
European collaboration with a strong industrial consortium
OHB Sweden isthe prime contractor for the delivery of the satellites for the EPS Sterna constellation. The consortium also includes Omnisys in Sweden, which is supplying the microwave instruments that constitute the primary meteorological payload. A total of 20 satellites will be delivered under the contract. The industrial team comprises around 30 companies. Germany is also strongly represented by SMEs that will contribute key hardware for the instrument and the satellite platform. The satellites will be procured by EUMETSAT through ESA. EUMETSAT itself will develop the ground segment, procure and provide launch services, operate the satellites, manage the constellation, and disseminate the data via its data distribution mechanisms. The planned operational lifespan is 13 years.
