18 March 2026
The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded OHB Sweden the contract to build 20 small satellites for the EUMETSAT Polar System – Sterna (EPS‑Sterna), with the agreement signed on 18 March 2026.
The EPS‑Sterna contract marks the largest satellite contract in Swedish history, elevating OHB Sweden to a leading position in Europe’s rapidly expanding New‑Space sector.
Building on the proven success of the Arctic Weather Satellite (AWS), developed in record time using a New‑Space approach, OHB Sweden now extends its expertise to a full operational constellation. The first six (6) satellites will be built and launched in 2029 in order to initiate the constellation. The remaining fourteen (14) satellites are planned to replace the initial ones when needed.
The programme brings long‑term industrial opportunities to Sweden, involving national partners such as AAC Omnisys, a subsidiary of AAC Clyde Space, who provides the mission's meteorological payload: a Gothenburg‑developed microwave radiometer. This strengthens Sweden’s innovation landscape and secures skilled engineering jobs for more than a decade, supporting growth across the Swedish space ecosystem.
For Sweden’s national meteorological services, EPS‑Sterna provides a major operational benefit. SMHI highlights that access to high‑frequency Arctic observations will improve early warnings and reduce dependency on non‑European data sources, supporting Sweden’s climate resilience and public protection.
Fredrik Sjöberg and Oscar Hemberg, Managing Directors, OHB Sweden:
“This contract represents an extraordinary milestone for OHB Sweden, and for the entire Swedish space community. We built the precursor satellite to this constellation, the Arctic Weather Satellite and demonstrated the functionality of the satellite and quality of data received from it, to improve global weather forecasting. The EPS-Sterna contract is the cumulated evidence that OHB Sweden and its partners are ready to lead, industrialize and deliver critical space infrastructure for Europe.”
EPS‑Sterna expands the capabilities demonstrated by the Arctic Weather Satellite, proving that low‑cost microsatellites can deliver high‑quality meteorological data previously associated with much larger, more expensive systems.
Equipped with state‑of‑the‑art microwave sounding radiometers, the constellation will provide detailed temperature and humidity profiles, data essential for improving numerical weather prediction models and global climate monitoring.
The constellation addresses major observational gaps over the Arctic, the most rapidly warming region on Earth, enhancing Europe’s ability to forecast severe weather events, winter storms, and fast‑changing atmospheric conditions.
Under the ESA–EUMETSAT cooperation model, ESA manages the satellite procurement while EUMETSAT develops and operates the ground segment and overall system infrastructure.
Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programmes, ESA:
“We are very pleased to award this important contract to OHB-Sweden, which also led the industrial consortium behind the Arctic Weather Satellite. Their ability to deliver such an outstanding mission in just 36 months and within a significantly tighter budget than traditional Earth observation programmes demonstrates that excellence and innovation can go hand in hand through a New Space approach. All of this gives us strong confidence as we move forward with the new EPS-Sterna constellation in cooperation with Eumetsat. The new constellation will play a vital role in strengthening Europe’s weather forecasting capabilities and delivering timely data where it matters most.”
Phil Evans, Director-General of EUMETSAT: “The signature of the contract with OHB-Sweden today marks the start of EPS-Sterna satellite development: it is an important milestone for Europe’s space-based observing system that will also open unique opportunities to develop cooperation with international partners, such as the United States, China and India, in support of the World Meteorological Organization’s Global Observing System.”
About OHB Sweden
OHB Sweden is a leading Swedish provider of satellite systems, propulsion systems and space mission solutions, specialising in advanced small‑satellite platforms and fast, high‑performance mission delivery. The company has a strong heritage in Earth‑observation missions and plays a central role in Europe’s New‑Space transformation.
About EUMETSAT – Trusted in Space. Essential on Earth.
Since 1986, EUMETSAT, Europe’s meteorological satellite agency, has monitored weather and climate from space. From its headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany, it operates a fleet of satellites observing the Earth system and delivers real-time data and imagery to its 30 member states to help protect communities and support critical sectors. Four Meteosat satellites in geostationary orbit provide continuous observations of fast developing weather events, while two polar-orbiting Metop satellites deliver data critical for forecasts up to 10 days ahead. EUMETSAT also supports European sovereignty policies, operating services under the Copernicus programme and leading development and management of the data lake for the Destination Earth initiative.
About ESA
The European Space Agency (ESA) leads Europe’s cooperation in space, developing and managing programmes covering Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications, space science and exploration.
Media Contacts
OHB Sweden
Mr. Fredrik Sjöberg, Managing Director, OHB Sweden
Email: fredrik.sjoberg@ohb-sweden.se
Phone: +46 (0)8 121 40 114
Mr. Joakim Kugelberg, Project Manager, EPS-STERNA at OHB Sweden
Email: joakim.kugelberg@ohb-sweden.se
Phone: +46 (0)8 121 40 106
Further information on EPS-STERNA:
EUMETSAT
https://www.eumetsat.int/eps-sterna
ESA
nd European Investors.
