The Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence is moving ahead with the launch of the first tender under the “HELLAS–SPACE 2.0” National Space Programme, with a budget of €69 million.
The project involves developing a national constellation of three very-high-resolution Earth observation satellites, with the aim of strengthening the country’s autonomy in accessing satellite data and meeting the operational needs of public services.
According to the relevant announcement, the tender is being run by the European Space Agency (ESA), in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence and the Hellenic Space Centre (ELKEΔ).
It is the first tender process under the new programme, which has a total budget of €350 million and builds on and expands the capabilities developed through the first National Microsatellite Programme.
With the new system, Greece will gain the capacity to collect satellite imagery at resolutions of up to 30 centimetres, with frequent observation of Greek territory and the wider Mediterranean region. The infrastructure will provide the relevant authorities with data for monitoring the country, civil protection and environmental protection, reducing reliance on third-party providers.
The new satellites will support the rapid mapping of areas affected by fires, floods and earthquakes, as well as the assessment of damage to infrastructure. Comparing images from different periods will also make it possible to identify new constructions, changes in land use and material deposits, facilitating checks for possible unauthorised interventions in forest, coastal and protected areas, as well as illegal waste dumps.
For maritime surveillance, the combined use of optical imagery, other satellite data and shipping information will help detect and track vessels that are not transmitting an identification signal (AIS). This will strengthen the work of the Hellenic Coast Guard, help investigate suspicious activity, combat illegal fishing and protect the marine environment.
The project covers the design, construction, integration and testing of the satellites, their launch and in-orbit acceptance, as well as the development of the ground control and data-processing segment. This approach will ensure the development of an integrated infrastructure, from the collection of satellite imagery to its processing and use by the relevant bodies.
Three more tenders by the end of the year
The second tender under “HELLAS–SPACE 2.0”, for thermal satellites owned by Greece, is expected to be launched in November 2026. The new infrastructure will strengthen environmental monitoring and the ability to detect fire hotspots, including at night.
Two more tenders are planned by the end of 2026. The first concerns microsatellites for detecting radio signals, which will support, among other things, the detection of vessels that are not transmitting an identification signal. The second concerns space situational awareness systems to monitor risks that could affect the safe operation of space infrastructure.
The deadline for submitting bids for the first tender is 23 December 2026 at 13:00, as specified in the tender notice.