Bayanat And Yahsat Launch UAE’s First SAR Satellite

Bayanat and Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) have announced the successful launch of the UAE's first Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite. The satellite, launched in partnership with ICEYE, was lifted off aboard SpaceX’s Transporter 11 rideshare from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The satellite has established communication, and early routine operations are reportedly underway. UAE’s first SAR satellite is considered a significant milestone for the region and the companies to enhance Earth Observation capabilities. According to Emirates News Agency (WAM) report, the satellite will use SAR technology, an active sensing system that illuminates the Earth’s surface and measures the reflected signal to generate high-resolution images. Unlike traditional optical imaging satellites, SAR has the capacity to capture images day and night, regardless of weather conditions or solar illumination.

Notably, the Earth Observation Space Program was created in 2023 to build national satellite remote sensing and earth observation capabilities within the UAE by building a SAR satellite constellation. The launch of the SAR satellite is the latest achievement from the ongoing partnership between Bayanat, Yahsat, and ICEYE.