ICEYE US

ICEYE was founded in 2014 by Rafał Modrzewski and Pekka Laurila as a spin-off from Aalto University in Espoo, Finland. It built the first synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite under 100 kg, launched in 2018, and now runs the world’s largest SAR constellation, with 76 satellites launched as of July 2026. Radar imaging sees through clouds and darkness, so customers use it for defense and intelligence, flood and wildfire response, insurance, and maritime monitoring. ICEYE is privately held. In June 2026 it raised €450 million in a Series F round led by General Atlantic, valuing the company at more than €10 billion.

ICEYE US is the company’s U.S. arm, set up as an independent company under U.S. security arrangements for foreign ownership. It designs, builds, and operates satellites from Irvine. The Irvine site handles final environmental testing and flight acceptance for U.S.-licensed spacecraft, and it runs a mission operations center. The team hires RF and hardware engineers, systems and test engineers, satellite operators, and business development staff with defense experience.

Recent news

• Aug 10, 2026: ICEYE US is building up satellite manufacturing in Irvine. It moved into a larger Irvine Spectrum facility, growing from about 5,000 to 14,000 square feet for hardware integration and testing (Orange County Business Journal, Aug 10, 2026; Irvine Standard, Sep 2, 2026).
• Sep 15, 2026: Selected for NOAA’s Space-Based Environmental Monitoring contract to provide SAR imagery for flood, sea ice, and disaster monitoring (ICEYE US).
• Aug 5, 2026: Won a National Reconnaissance Office Radar Commercial Augmentation contract, alongside Capella Space and Umbra (ICEYE US; Breaking Defense).
• Jul 7, 2026: ICEYE launched four satellites on SpaceX’s Transporter-17 from Vandenberg, including national-mission satellites supported by ICEYE US (ICEYE).
• Jun 9, 2026: The parent company raised a €450 million Series F led by General Atlantic, at a valuation above €10 billion (ICEYE).
• May 14, 2026: Selected under the NRO’s Strategic Commercial Enhancements program (ICEYE US).