WASHINGTON — A Ukrainian defense technology company and a Danish satellite manufacturer have begun operating an experimental communications satellite in orbit.
Ukrainian startup Himera and Denmark’s GomSpace said Oct. 27 that their Obria Nano satellite, launched Oct. 1 aboard the SpaceX Transporter-18 rideshare mission, is undergoing tests. The companies plan to design a constellation that would provide communications coverage across Ukraine.
The project is one of at least two European-backed initiatives aimed at giving Ukraine greater control over satellite communications, following disruptions this month to SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield services that affected Ukrainian military operations.
The announcement comes five days after Finnish satellite manufacturer Iceye and telecommunications equipment maker Nokia signed a letter of intent with Ukraine’s Defense Ministry to explore developing a sovereign broadband satellite communications network.
Ukraine has relied heavily on SpaceX’s satellite services for battlefield communications since Russia’s invasion in 2022. The services have become essential to military command networks, drone operations and communications in areas where terrestrial infrastructure has been destroyed or disrupted.
But restrictions imposed in mid-October limited satellite connectivity, interfering with Ukrainian drone operations, including efforts to intercept Russian attack drones.
Ukraine said Oct. 24 that Starlink and Starshield services had returned to normal operating speeds. The disruptions prompted a dispute over responsibility, with SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk and U.S. officials offering conflicting explanations about who had authorized the limits.
Himera and GomSpace said the Obria Nano project is intended to establish a communications system under Ukrainian control, with plans eventually to manufacture satellites and ground terminals domestically.
“For us, this project is about more than launching a satellite. It is an opportunity to lay the foundation for an independent communications network for Ukraine,” said Misha Rudominski, Himera’s co-founder and chief executive.
“We are starting by testing technologies in orbit, while our long-term goal is to develop capabilities that will strengthen the country’s strategic security and reduce dependence on external communications providers,” he said.
Himera, founded in 2022, develops secure tactical radio systems for military forces, including equipment designed to operate in environments affected by electronic warfare.
GomSpace, headquartered in Aalborg, Denmark, manufactures small satellites, communications payloads and spacecraft subsystems.
The companies said Obria Nano is operating in orbit and undergoing testing that will inform the design of a constellation. They did not disclose the satellite’s specifications, communications capacity, project financing or the number of satellites envisioned for the network.
Neither European initiative is expected to replace Starlink’s extensive global network. Smaller national constellations could provide dedicated communications for selected military operations while supplementing commercial services.
