Ukraine’s UASAT LEO low-orbit satellite constellation project has entered the practical stage of implementation. The launch of the first Ukrainian communication satellite UASAT-NANO is scheduled for October 2026, and the place for its launch has already been reserved. The relevance of this step is due to the fact that high-speed satellite communications have radically changed the modern battlefield, ushering in the era of the “drone war” and confirming the critical role of space communications in a full-scale military confrontation, as clearly demonstrated by Starlink, OneWeb and other global satellite networks.

The Ukrainian technology company STETMAN, the UASAT satellite communications operator, is implementing the UASAT LEO low-orbit satellite constellation project, which involves the creation of a network of 245 communications satellites. The concept of the project is based on the integration of technological capabilities and needs of the participating countries to ensure sovereign satellite communications, which is made possible by the current level of availability of space technologies and the economic feasibility of joint operation of the constellation. The project has already received support from the government of Ukraine, partner countries, and European Union institutions, and is being implemented with the participation of leading international technology companies.

The UASAT LEO project envisages not only the creation of a satellite constellation, but also the development and production of modern ground terminals, which together should ensure reliable and independent satellite communications in accordance with national needs. The initiative is not aimed at commercial competition with global systems such as Starlink, OneWeb, or Amazon LEO, but is focused on meeting the critical needs of the state and partner countries in the areas of security, life, and defense. The relevance of creating a sovereign satellite communications system has increased significantly since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, which has emphasized its strategic importance.

Starting in 2026, Ukraine, in cooperation with partner countries, plans to develop low-orbit spacecraft with the parallel deployment of the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) system and its integration into defense information and command circuits, and in the period 2030-2035 – the formation of a fully functional space defense segment in the form of a multi-satellite constellation, The key element of this grouping will be the Drak optical reconnaissance satellite “Suzirya”, which is being developed for the Armed Forces of Ukraine by the Brno Space Cluster consortium with the participation of Ukrainian specialists under the system integration of TRL Space and is equipped with high-precision remote sensing equipment in the visible spectrum with a spatial resolution of less than 1 m/pixel.

Thus, the development of sovereign satellite communications and reconnaissance systems is not only a technological project, but also a strategic response to the growing military threats from authoritarian regimes that use outer space as an instrument of pressure and hybrid warfare, making independent space infrastructure a critical element of security for the free democratic world.