May 6, 2025|
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|7 months agoSwiss Army Launches Sovereign Satellite Network Initiative
Switzerland's defense ministry is funding domestically produced satellites, aiming to establish an independent communications network with the first test satellite already in orbit.
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Generated IllustrationKey Takeaways
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- Wisekey launched its first test satellite for the Swiss army in January using a SpaceX vehicle.
- The test satellite flies over Switzerland three times a day to test antenna connectivity.
- The Federal Office for Armaments (Armasuisse) allocated approximately CHF 250,000 to Wisekey for research contracts.
- Switzerland previously relied on a cooperation agreement with France for satellite imagery.
By The Numbers
CHF 500,000
investment cost per satellite
100
satellites
3
years
5
satellites
They Said
"Being dependent on another country is undesirable."
"The satellite belongs to us. We lease it to the Swiss army through a partnership."