KONGSBERG Launches Groundbreaking Sovereign Satellite Comms Solution with Meridian Technology
KONGSBERG Unveils Advanced Sovereign Satellite Communications Solution for Allied Governments
KONGSBERG has recently announced a groundbreaking satellite communications solution designed specifically for allied governments. This innovative system will leverage advanced technologies from Meridian, alongside SpinLaunch’s cutting-edge satellite communications constellation.
Through a strategic partnership, the two companies are set to deliver government-controlled low-earth orbit (LEO) broadband constellations. This initiative will combine KONGSBERG’s extensive satellite infrastructure knowledge, which includes spacecraft platforms, secure ground stations, and mission operations, with SpinLaunch’s unique Meridian architecture.
Camilla Kiss, President at KONGSBERG, emphasized the critical nature of this new solution. “In an increasingly contested and interconnected world, resilient sovereign communications are vital for national security and civil preparedness. Partnering with SpinLaunch allows us to integrate Meridian’s LEO architecture with our comprehensive expertise in satellites and mission operations, offering allied governments enhanced capacity, quicker deployment, and total sovereign control over both space and ground operations,” she stated.
This collaboration creates a sovereign-ready, end-to-end solution tailored for government users by merging KONGSBERG’s robust space capabilities with Meridian’s breakthrough communication payload and constellation design. The result is a system that ensures greater bandwidth, expedited deployment times, and full sovereign control, facilitating defence communications and civil preparedness through efficient and scalable operations.
Building on an existing partnership, this agreement propels the commercialization of the Meridian constellation. With its innovative architecture, Meridian promises increased capacity and reduced lifecycle costs, allowing for rapid deployment and simplified global coverage.
As part of this collaboration, KONGSBERG will support both the dual-use Meridian system and the newly announced Meridian Defense constellation, specifically designed to enhance resilience and security by routing data through space instead of relying on terrestrial relay points.
Massi Ladovaz, CEO of SpinLaunch, praised KONGSBERG’s commitment: “KONGSBERG brings a proven track record in mission-critical defense systems and space capabilities. Meridian introduces a revolutionary communications architecture that significantly enhances performance while minimizing cost and complexity. Together, we are merging a unique payload and constellation design with KONGSBERG’s comprehensive infrastructure to deliver a sovereign capability that governments can control and scale according to their needs.”
Previously, KONGSBERG’s subsidiary, Kongsberg NanoAvionics, was contracted to provide 280 satellites for Meridian’s initial constellation. The Meridian payload has now achieved flight qualification and is advancing towards integration with the Kongsberg NanoAvionics platform, ahead of its First Customer Link (FCL) mission. The program remains on schedule for launch in October 2026 aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-18 mission.
