Ukraine’s HIMERA and Denmark’s GomSpace have placed a test satellite into orbit for a planned sovereign communications network, as Kyiv seeks to reduce its reliance on SpaceX’s Starlink amid concerns over its dependence on an external provider for critical communications.
Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on the Transporter-18 mission on October 1, the OBRIA Nano satellite is undergoing technical tests to inform the design of a constellation intended to provide communications coverage across Ukraine and complement European satellite networks.
The next phase will involve localizing satellite and ground-terminal production in Ukraine, developing domestic expertise and expanding manufacturing capabilities.
Founded in 2022, HIMERA develops secure tactical radios for military use in electronic warfare environments. GomSpace manufactures small satellites, communications payloads, and spacecraft subsystems.
“For us, this project is about more than launching a satellite. It is an opportunity to lay the foundation for an independent communications network for Ukraine,” HIMERA co-founder and CEO Misha Rudominski said.
Rudominski said the initial tests would help develop capabilities to strengthen Ukraine’s strategic security and reduce dependence on external communications providers.
GomSpace CEO Carsten Drachmann said the companies shared an ambition to “strengthen Ukraine’s independent communications capabilities and support its long-term security and economic development.”
OBRIA Nano or UASAT-NANO?
The announcement follows an April agreement between GomSpace and Ukrainian satellite communications company STETMAN to establish a joint venture called UASAT to develop a separate satellite communications initiative.
Both HIMERA and GomSpace identify October 1 as the launch date for OBRIA Nano. However, SpaceX’s official Transporter-18 mission manifest lists a Ukrainian satellite named UASAT-NANO, deployed during the same mission.
The matching launch date, GomSpace’s involvement in both initiatives, and their similar objectives raise the possibility that OBRIA Nano and UASAT-NANO are the same spacecraft operating under different names.
Neither GomSpace nor HIMERA has publicly clarified the relationship between OBRIA and UASAT or explained STETMAN’s role in the OBRIA initiative.
UASAT Constellation
The planned UASAT constellation is designed to operate in low Earth orbit at an altitude of approximately 550 kilometers (342 miles), with resilience against electronic warfare.
GomSpace is expected to manufacture the satellites initially, with production gradually shifting to Ukraine.
The initial deployment plan prioritizes secure government and military communications, with 30,000 to 50,000 terminals expected to be supplied in 2027. The network could eventually support up to 100,000 terminals per country and expand to allied nations.
The roadmap calls for 120 satellites by 2027, followed by more than 100 launches annually. These figures are planned targets rather than confirmed deployments.
Ukraine Seeks Alternatives to Starlink
The planned constellation is part of Ukraine’s broader push to develop domestic satellite communications capabilities and diversify its options for secure connectivity.
Ukraine has relied heavily on SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network for battlefield communications since Russia’s 2022 invasion. The service supports military command, drone operations, and connectivity in areas where terrestrial infrastructure has been damaged or disrupted.
Temporary restrictions imposed in mid-October disrupted Ukrainian connectivity and affected drone operations, including efforts to intercept Russian attack drones.
A separate initiative involving Finnish companies ICEYE and Nokia also reflects Ukraine’s efforts to reduce reliance on external communications providers. The companies signed a letter of intent with Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence on October 22 to explore cooperation on a sovereign satellite communications system.
The proposed system would use low Earth orbit satellites to provide secure communications for defense and other government missions. Its first satellites are expected to launch in 2028, although the agreement does not constitute a confirmed procurement order.
