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ESA and AAC Clyde Space to Launch Maritime Satellite Constellation Project
On February 18, 2025, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced a partnership with AAC Clyde Space, a prominent company in the New Space sector specializing in small satellite technology. This collaboration aims to initiate the first phase of the INFLECION satellite constellation project, focusing on enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). The project aspires to improve safety, efficiency, compliance, and environmental sustainability within maritime operations.
With about 90% of global trade conducted via maritime routes, these channels are becoming increasingly congested, influenced by factors such as supply chain disruptions, evolving trade dynamics, and geopolitical tensions. The INFLECION project is strategically developed to monitor and facilitate maritime activities and will support the International Maritime Organisation’s e-Navigation strategy, which aims to enhance navigation safety and efficiency.
This ambitious project, estimated at €30 million, will receive co-funding from the UK Space Agency through ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunication Systems (ARTES) Partnership Project program under the agency’s Connectivity and Secure Communications directorate. INFLECION seeks to deliver three core services:
Key Services of the INFLECION Project
- Enhancing operational efficiency by optimizing vessel routes and achieving just-in-time arrivals.
- Strengthening maritime security through AI-driven satellite surveillance to combat smuggling and illegal fishing.
- Promoting environmental sustainability by safeguarding marine ecosystems and ensuring regulatory compliance.
The system will leverage three innovative technologies: the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) for reliable two-way data communication among vessels, satellites, and shore installations; Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) for detecting and scrutinizing electronic signals linked to illegal activities; and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for persistent surveillance of shipping routes and coastal regions under all weather conditions.
The project will unfold in three phases, starting with the current initial phase that seeks to clarify the project’s requirements by the conclusion of 2025. This will be followed by a 15-month development phase dedicated to creating prototypes and systems, and ultimately a demonstration phase aimed at testing and preparing the technology for commercial deployment. Full operational capability is anticipated to be achieved by 2028.
ESA’s Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications, Laurent Jaffart, remarked, “The maritime industry is confronting unprecedented challenges due to supply chain disruptions and evolving trade patterns. INFLECION will deliver essential space-based solutions needed to navigate these obstacles while ensuring the conservation of our marine environment.”
Luis Gomes, CEO of AAC Clyde Space, emphasized the project’s significance, stating, “INFLECION represents a pivotal move in our strategy to expand Space Data as a Service. Through this initiative, we are deploying space technology to address tangible challenges faced by the maritime industry. Together with our partners, we aim to establish a new benchmark for safety, efficiency, and sustainability at sea.”
AAC Clyde Space is at the helm of a consortium of UK organizations collaborating on this project, which includes AST Marine, Bright Ascension, Craft Prospect, Heriot Watt University, Horizon Technologies, ICEYE UK, Omanos Analytics, Nash Maritime, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Saab UK, and University of Strathclyde.
Source
www.esa.int