BAE Systems Marks Key Milestone with Successful Launch of UK-Built RF and SAR Satellite Cluster

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A cluster of British designed and built satellites has been successfully launched into low Earth orbit, providing defence, security and civil sectors with UK space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to enhance the nation’s ability to protect against modern threats.

Three BAE Systems designed and built Azalea radio frequency (RF) satellites, have been successfully launched via Exolaunch as part of the Transporter-15 rideshare mission with SpaceX on 28 November, 2025. Communications with the UK-produced satellites were successfully established across the first three contact opportunities between 23:05 and 04:55 GMT.

This marks a crucial milestone in the Company’s self-funded Azalea mission which will see the three satellites fly in formation at an altitude of 350 miles, using their ultra-wideband RF sensors to monitor and geolocate radio signals on Earth across vast distances.

They are joined by a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite that can see through clouds to create images of the earth’s surface. Launched aboard the same Transporter-15 mission, the satellite from Finnish company ICEYE becomes part of a four satellite cluster with advanced multi-sensing capabilities.

The cluster will process RF and SAR data in space, designed to deliver actionable information directly to decision-makers across land, sea and air in near real time – helping them protect armed forces, safeguard critical national infrastructure and detect illegal activity at sea. Over the coming months, BAE Systems will trial this novel fusion of RF and SAR data, collaborating with customers to explore a range of use cases including intelligence gathering and supporting disaster relief.