Kongsberg to Add Three More Satellites to Maritime Surveillance Network
Kongsberg has unveiled plans to add three more satellites to its N3X maritime surveillance constellation in early 2027, doubling the number of satellites in the network to six as it expands space-based monitoring capabilities for the Norwegian Armed Forces.
The additional satellites are intended to improve revisit rates and provide near-real-time coverage, strengthening maritime situational awareness for Norway and international partners.
The expansion builds on the deployment of three initial N3X satellites in 2025, which are currently providing maritime surveillance data to Norwegian authorities.
The data is used by the Norwegian Armed Forces and other government agencies, including the Norwegian Coastal Administration, the Directorate of Fisheries and Norwegian Customs.
The program covers Kongsberg’s end-to-end space capabilities, with satellite platforms supplied by Kongsberg NanoAvionics, ground services and satellite operations provided by KSAT, and KONGSBERG responsible for overall system integration and secure data delivery.
The N3X constellation is designed for both security and civil applications. Kongsberg said it provides data to commercial customers, while surplus capacity is being delivered to allied nations and further capacity is available to allied and partner countries.
All six satellites will be owned by Kongsberg and equipped with integrated satellite AIS receivers and passive RF sensors. The systems are designed to detect and track dark vessels, identify AIS spoofing attempts and monitor other anomalous maritime activity.
“The operational results achieved with the first three satellites have confirmed the value of space-based maritime surveillance as an important component of our situational awareness capabilities. Expanding the constellation will further improve coverage, responsiveness, and our ability to monitor activities of interest in maritime areas,” said Colonel John-Arild Bodding, Commander of Norwegian Armed Forces Space Operations Center.
