Third COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation radar satellite enters service ramp-up

Paris, France (SPX) Jan 06, 2026

The third satellite in the COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation radar constellation has been launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on a SpaceX Falcon 9 for the Italian Space Agency and the Italian Ministry of Defense, extending Italy’s dual-use Earth observation capability.

Built by Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales and Leonardo, and operated in orbit by Teles