Ukraine to unite with Czech Republic to create intelligence satellite group "Suzirya"
Ukraine and the Czech Republic are working to create a joint constellation of satellites called Suzirya, which will be engaged in optical reconnaissance. The first satellite of the system - TROLL - has already entered orbit, and the next one, Drak, is being developed specifically for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Here's What We Know
The agreement on the establishment of a defence cluster between Ukraine and the Czech Republic was signed in October 2022. It initiated cooperation in the space sector, including the deployment of the Constellation reconnaissance satellite group.
Earlier it became known that it is based on TROLL satellites developed by the Czech company TRL Space. The first such vehicle was launched into orbit in January 2024. It is equipped with a hyperspectral camera with a lens diameter of 10 cm, capable of imaging the Earth's surface with a resolution of less than 5 metres per pixel.
The TROLL satellite. Illustration: TRL Space
The second element of the grouping will be the Drak satellite, which is being developed by Czech and Ukrainian specialists for the needs of the Armed Forces. It will have a camera to operate in the visible spectrum with a resolution of less than one metre per pixel. For security reasons, the exact specifications are not disclosed. It is known that Drak belongs to the class of microsatellites and weighs between 50 and 150 kg.
Suzirya is expected to significantly enhance Ukraine's satellite reconnaissance capabilities. There is also a possibility that Ukraine will have access to data from the French CSO-3 satellite, which was recently launched by an Ariane 6 rocket.
Source: Militarnyi
