The Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the Ministry of Defense have signed contracts for two COSMO-SKyMed Second Generation (CSG) satellites. Satellites 3 and 4 will complete the second generation of the Italian earth observation program, guaranteeing continuity and high performance of the planet's monitoring services.

Leonardo's CEO Alessandro Profumo he commented: "COSMO-SkyMed is a success story of the Italian system, a driver of technological research, new applications, industrial competitiveness and employment, as well as a fundamental infrastructure for the protection and safety of our country and Europe. A system whose potential in terms of reliability, precision and flexibility are known internationally thanks to the skills demonstrated in the management of emergency situations related to sudden events, capabilities further enhanced in the second generation of the program, thanks to continuous technological research. Like Leonardo, we are proud of the contribution provided in all phases of the COSMO-SkyMed program, a role that gives us credibility and prestige with our customers all over the world ".

COSMO-SkyMed is an Earth observation satellite system of ASI and the Ministry of Defense, a flagship of Italian technology and innovation, built by Leonardo and its joint ventures Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio. Dual-use constellation, with its "eyes" SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) capable of monitoring the phenomena of the Earth in any weather condition, COSMO-SkyMed has changed the way of observing the planet, ensuring essential information for safety and understanding of phenomena that affect everyday life.

With the innovations of the second generation, among the numerous benefits, COSMO-SkyMed becomes the first SAR space system in the world capable of simultaneously acquiring two images of two areas hundreds of kilometers apart and thus serving two requests that would conflicting for any other satellite system.

COSMO-SkyMed images are used to support populations affected by natural disasters such as earthquakes and fires, but also for the control of cultural and artistic heritage, of critical infrastructures, for monitoring the receding of glaciers, that of oil spills in the seas and for the optimization of agricultural techniques.

The first Second Generation satellite was launched a year ago. The second satellite will be launched aboard a VEGA-C rocket. To these will be added the next two.

COSMO-SkyMed

The COSMO-SkyMed system, of the Italian Space Agency and the Ministry of Defense, is the result and expression of the best skills of the Italian space industry, with Leonardo and its joint ventures Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio, assisted by a significant number of small and medium-sized enterprises. In particular, Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%) is responsible for the entire radar system and satellites, while Telespazio, a joint venture between Leonardo (67%) and Thales (33%) is responsible of the land segment and hosts the command and control center of the constellation at Fucino. Leonardo also contributes to the program by supplying stellar attitude sensors for satellite orientation, photovoltaic panels and electronic units for managing electrical power. The first generation has four satellites launched between 2007 and 2010, while the first satellite of the new generation was launched in December 2019. The COSMO-SkyMed constellation is able to acquire up to 1800 images per day that Leonardo, via e- GEOS (Telespazio 80%, ASI 20%) receives, processes and markets all over the world.

COSMO-SkyMed: two new contracts with Difesa and Asi