Hungary Rockets Into Space Sovereignty
Hungary is done watching from the sidelines. After astronaut Tibor Kapu joined the ISS on Axiom Mission 4 alongside Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, Budapest is sending a bold signal: it’s time for national space independence. The HUSAT programme and the planned HULEO satellite constellation could transform Central Europe, turning it from a technology consumer into a co-creator of cutting-edge space systems.
The HUSAT programme and HULEO constellation aim to give Hungarian institutions direct access to original satellite data, to be used both in crisis situations and for long-term development planning. The tender is already drawing attention across Europe, with Polish companies standing out for their proven experience in building exactly the types of systems Hungary needs.
The tender is organised by 4iG Space & Defence Technologies, part of the 4iG Group. It is Hungary’s first large, fully private company focused on space and defence technologies, building a broad portfolio in satellites, drones and anti-drone systems, defence digitisation, data processing, land systems, and cybersecurity. 4iG SDT leads the HUSAT programme, the largest privately financed satellite initiative in the region, and is working with the Hungarian state to build a defence holding that blends modern space and drone technologies with traditional armament production.
Hungary’s High-Tech Eyes in Orbit
Budapest’s goal is clear: independence. Hungary doesn’t just want to buy finished satellite images - it wants to own, analyze, and archive them. Achieving this requires more than a single satellite; it demands an integrated system spanning design, integration, ground segments, data centres, and trained specialists who can make full use of the information.
HULEO, a constellation of eight observation satellites within the HUSAT programme, will form the backbone of this sovereign observation capability. The data will monitor critical infrastructure, respond to floods and droughts, support precision agriculture and urban planning, enhance border protection, and assist NATO operations when needed.
Polish Tech Powers Hungary’s HULEO
Polish companies participating in the Hungarian tender bring exactly what Hungary is looking for: satellite design, Earth observation instruments, SAR radars, AI algorithms, and satellite data processing expertise. Poland’s HyperSat platform is designed for small and medium-sized observation satellites and can be adapted for constellations like HULEO.
Polish firms already have extensive experience with demanding institutional clients, from European Space Agency missions such as the CAMILA constellation to military projects like Mikroglob. This makes the Hungarian tender a natural next step toward regional collaboration, not a leap into the unknown.
Leading Voices: Partnership and Innovation
“As a result of innovative platforms like HyperSat, we’ve moved from local projects to ESA missions and now to systems for the Polish military. Today, we are ready to help the region build independent space capabilities,” says Prof. Grzegorz Brona, President of Creotech Instruments.
SAR radars, essential for night-time and all-weather observation, are equally critical.
“If our radar systems become the beating heart of HULEO, it will drive innovation and elevate the entire region’s capabilities. Together, we gain an edge that allows our countries not only to defend themselves but to develop advanced industries, and achieve true independence from global players,” notes Dr. Maciej Klemm, President of Eycore.
Co-Creation, Not Just a Sale
The Hungarian tender is about collaboration, not just selling a “black box.” Polish companies are offering joint ventures, licenses, and knowledge transfer, gradually relocating part of the production and expertise to Hungary.
If HULEO is built on Polish technology, both countries win: Hungary can deploy a proven system faster, avoiding costly mistakes, while Poland strengthens its regional position through partnership, not domination. In the long term, this could lay the groundwork for a “Space Three Seas Initiative”, a network of Central European national constellations built on shared technology but controlled by individual states.
A New Chapter for Central Europe
The project has social and political significance. For citizens of Poland and Hungary, it signals that the region is no longer just a recipient of foreign technologies - it is a co-creator of the solutions shaping security and development. For young engineers, scientists, and IT specialists, it offers new jobs and the chance to work on ambitious space projects without leaving home.
Regardless of the tender’s outcome, one thing is clear: Hungary is looking to its neighbors for partners, and Polish companies are ready to respond, not just with products, but with long-term engagement. Together, they are laying the foundation for a Central European “our space”, a realm where security and innovation are determined not by global giants, but by nations along the Wisłaan and Danube Rivers.
Tomasz Grodecki
Journalist | Polish Press Agency
