Germany Taps Planet Labs for €240 Million Satellite Deal to Strengthen European Security
In a major step toward enhancing Europe’s space-based intelligence capabilities, Planet Labs Germany GmbH—a Berlin-based subsidiary of U.S. Earth observation company Planet—has signed a multi-year agreement worth €240 million, funded by the German government. The agreement aims to bolster regional peace, situational awareness, and maritime security through advanced satellite services, reflecting growing European investment in sovereign space technologies amidst a shifting geopolitical landscape.
The deal marks a significant expansion of Planet's services in Europe and includes access to dedicated imaging capacity from the upcoming Pelican constellation, a new generation of high-resolution satellites currently under development. These satellites will offer up to 30-centimeter resolution and are designed to be agile and responsive, with multiple daily revisit capabilities, particularly over designated European regions. Importantly, the agreement includes direct downlink services—allowing German and European users to receive imagery data directly, reducing latency and increasing autonomy over the information flow.
The contract also grants access to PlanetScope and SkySat data, two of Planet’s established Earth observation platforms. PlanetScope offers medium-resolution, high-frequency imaging of the entire Earth’s landmass, while SkySat provides sub-meter resolution imagery ideal for monitoring infrastructure, troop movements, and changes in conflict zones. Combined with AI-powered analytics, these data streams are intended to support real-time threat detection, maritime domain awareness, and long-range monitoring of sensitive areas.
This agreement is not just about acquiring data—it reflects a strategic shift in how European governments approach space and security. Rather than building and managing national satellite fleets from scratch, countries like Germany are opting for Planet’s dedicated capacity model. This model allows secure and prioritized access to high-resolution data while eliminating the cost and complexity of operating a proprietary satellite infrastructure.
Planet Labs’ CEO, Will Marshall, emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating, “With the changing geopolitical landscape, the demand for sovereign access to geospatial intelligence is more urgent than ever before.” He added that Planet’s satellite service approach is uniquely suited for large-area, persistent monitoring, which is increasingly vital for national and regional defense.
Martin Polak, Managing Director of Planet Labs Germany GmbH, noted the critical role of the company’s European team in managing the satellite fleet and delivering actionable intelligence. “This agreement powerfully underscores the unique value we deliver to Germany’s long-term security interests,” he said. “We are proud to deliver the space-based tools that Europe urgently needs at this critical time.”
This latest contract follows Planet's previous collaboration with NATO, further cementing its role as a trusted defense and security partner. With an eye on the future, Planet confirmed that revenue from this new agreement will begin in January 2026 and continue to grow in the following years. However, the financial impact for the current fiscal year remains unchanged, as per the company’s latest guidance issued in June 2025.
As Europe grapples with heightened tensions near its borders and the need for stronger situational awareness grows, this deal positions Germany—and the continent more broadly—at the forefront of a new era in responsive, AI-driven, satellite-based security infrastructure.
