Polish satellite maker Creotech Instruments is targeting a 2029 factory opening, while Chief Executive Grzegorz Brona told Reuters Europe could still rely on U.S. rockets as its satellite-making capacity expands.
The company’s published strategy calls for annual capacity of more than 40 satellites by 2029, compared with about 10 a year now. Brona told Reuters the proposed factory’s capacity would vary with its product mix: about 40 satellites annually across different designs, or as many as 100 if production focused on one design. The 100-satellite figure is a conditional ceiling, while the strategy’s stated goal is more than 40. Reuters reported that Brona tied his warning about political pressure on the European Union to the Trump administration.
Creotech disclosed on Sept. 24 that it had signed a preliminary agreement to buy two plots in Poland’s Mazowieckie region for a combined PLN 20.1 million, with plans to build a production plant there. A June share sale raised PLN 481 million gross to support the company’s growth strategy, including production expansion.
A recent mission illustrates Creotech’s use of U.S. launch services. The company said a SpaceX Falcon 9 launched three satellites for Poland’s four-satellite Mikroglob Earth-observation system on Oct. 1. The system is for Poland’s Armament Agency.
Europe is also working to expand its launch options. The European Space Agency (ESA) said German company Isar Aerospace reached orbit from Norway on Sept. 5. ESA’s European Launcher Challenge aims to increase the supply of European launch services.
Creotech leads an ESA concept study related to the European Union’s IRIS² secure-connectivity program. The European Commission expanded the plan to 348 satellites in August, with first launches scheduled for 2029. The study is worth EUR 1.47 million, including a EUR 950,000 share for Creotech, and is due to conclude in January 2027. It covers a mission concept and is separate from an award to build the main constellation.
