- IHI signs MoU with Finland’s Kuva Space on a hyperspectral satellite constellation for Japan security markets
- Partnership covers dual-use satellite data, constellation requirements and business schemes including potential domestic satellite manufacturing
- Kuva Space operates two hyperspectral satellites and plans a next-generation launch in 2027
Representatives from IHI and Kuva Space sign a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on a hyperspectral satellite constellation.
IHI
IHI has signed a memorandum of understanding with Finnish startup Kuva Space Oy to build a hyperspectral satellite constellation for Japan’s national security and economic security markets and to explore dual-use applications for satellite data, the Japanese engineering group said on July 21.
The agreement covers studies on how to use Kuva Space’s hyperspectral satellite data for dual-use purposes, definition of requirements for a hyperspectral satellite constellation, and evaluation of a business structure for deploying such a constellation in Japan with a view to domestic satellite manufacturing.
Kuva Space, founded in 2016 in Espoo, Finland, develops and operates small hyperspectral satellites and provides satellite image analysis services using artificial intelligence. The company launched its first hyperspectral satellite in 2024 and now operates two satellites. It plans to launch a next-generation satellite in 2027 that can capture higher-resolution images as it expands its constellation.
Hyperspectral satellites carry sensors that capture a broader and more detailed range of wavelengths than conventional optical satellites. By analyzing differences in reflected spectra in the resulting image data, operators can estimate the material, condition or anomalies of a target. IHI said applications for Kuva Space’s imaging and AI-based analysis could extend beyond national and economic security to agriculture and food security, including crop disease detection and yield forecasting, as well as marine monitoring such as water pollution and forest management and carbon-credit related uses.
IHI has been testing and validating Kuva Space’s hyperspectral imaging and AI-based analytical methods since the previous fiscal year. The partnership is intended to strengthen Japan’s national security and intelligence capabilities, support the development of Japan’s space industry, and deepen cooperation with Finland in Earth observation, the company said.
The announcement comes amid broader bilateral cooperation in dual-use and advanced technologies. A joint statement issued by the leaders of Japan and Finland in June 2025 called for stronger cooperation in defense and economic security, while another joint statement signed in February 2026 agreed to deepen cooperation in dual-use advanced technology fields including space and satellite data.
IHI launched its small hyperspectral satellite IHI-SAT2 in November 2025 and has been working to improve hyperspectral image analysis and acquire satellite operations capabilities. It ultimately envisions a broader constellation that would add optical, VDES, radio-frequency and infrared satellites alongside hyperspectral and synthetic aperture radar satellites.
IHI has also been expanding its Earth observation satellite efforts in other areas. On May 28, 2026, it started data acquisition after beginning operation of two ICEYE-made SAR satellites under its satellite constellation plan. SAR, or synthetic aperture radar, satellites can image the Earth’s surface regardless of cloud cover or daylight conditions, making them complementary to optical and hyperspectral systems in surveillance and monitoring missions.