OHB Sweden, a subsidiary of the space and technology company OHB SE, has received a major contract from SWISSto12. OHB Sweden will supply six state-of-the-art electric propulsion systems (EP systems) for the innovative HummingSat platform\u2014the world\u2019s first commercial small satellites for geostationary orbit (GEO). HummingSat is a small but powerful geostationary telecommunications satellite developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) as part of its public-private partnership program.<\/p>\n\n
OHB Sweden\u2019s propulsion systems enable precise orbital maneuvers, position-keeping in GEO, repositioning within the geostationary arc, and extended mission durations. In this way, the system supports the SWISSto12 mission to provide agile and cost-effective solutions for the evolving telecommunications markets. With the transition from traditional broadcast services to broadband connectivity, HummingSat\u2019s high performance and lower construction and launch costs are fundamentally transforming the GEO market landscape. Furthermore, this collaboration makes an important contribution to European space sovereignty and strengthens Europe\u2019s leadership and competitiveness in the global space industry.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cThis contract is a milestone for us, as it confirms our expertise in the field of electric propulsion systems and further advances our industrialization efforts,\u201d says Fredrik Sj\u00f6berg, Deputy Managing Director of OHB Sweden. \u201cOur goal is to deliver a complete subsystem every two months starting in mid-2026. Our new production facility was designed precisely for projects like this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
\u201cThis program represents a Europe-wide collaboration between Sweden, Switzerland, and Germany and strengthens European space and satellite sovereignty,\u201d explains Emile de Rijk, CEO of SWISSto12. \u201cHummingSat is the world\u2019s first commercial SmallSat for GEO. Its high performance combined with lower construction and launch costs will transform the GEO market and enable telecommunications providers and governments to deploy new, agile satellite solutions that better connect the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
The contract is supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) as part of the\u00a0HummingSat Partnership\u00a0<\/a>Project, with financial contributions from the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). This agreement underscores the growing importance of European cooperation in space technology and the shared commitment to sustainable, high-performance solutions for global connectivity. OHB Sweden\u2019s advanced EP systems play a crucial role in the success of SWISSto12\u2019s groundbreaking HummingSat program.<\/p>\n\n