ICEYE, the global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations, is demonstrating the operational capabilities of its newly launched ISR Cell at the NATO Tiger Meet (NTM25) exercise in Beja, Portugal (22–30 September), in close coordination with the Centre of Space Operations from the Portuguese Air Force. The international exercise involves around 1,700 military personnel from 12 different countries. It aims to strengthen interoperability between allied forces with training focused on realistic scenarios of integrated air defense, offensive air combat, attack, and support for land and sea components, which are essential to respond to current military defense challenges.

During the event, two synchronized exercises integrated with NTM25 will also take place, namely Ramstein Guard – from NATO's Electronic Warfare training program – and FAST EAGLE 25 – an exercise coordinated by the Joint Planning Cell and focused on Special Operations. The ISR Cell is a mobile, end-to-end containerized unit that gives defense forces direct access to space-based tactical Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) in near real time. It enhances decision-making speed and effectiveness at all levels, from Joint HQ to brigades. Designed to plug-and-play with any ICEYE mission, sovereign or ICEYE-operated, it moves space-based intelligence from centralized nodes to the edge and has previously been proven in NATO military exercises.

At the NATO Tiger Meet, the ISR Cell plays a decisive role by demonstrating, in a multinational operational environment, how space-based ISR can be integrated into the decision-making process in near real time. The data collected is rapidly analyzed and transformed into actionable knowledge, delivering information that is more current, accurate, and relevant. This capability provides an almost immediate situational picture, enabling more informed and proactive decisions that enhance operational effectiveness and reduce uncertainty in complex and dynamic scenarios. By delivering this knowledge directly to forces on the ground, the ISR Cell accelerates coordination across all levels of command and strengthens interoperability, which remains the true center of gravity of the exercise.

This exercise highlights the collaboration between ICEYE, CTI Aeroespacial, the Portuguese Air Force, and Geosat. Together, the teams are showcasing how tactical space-based intelligence can be integrated seamlessly into operational environments, particularly for target identification and coherence change detection by bringing space-based data closer to the frontline. Jordi Laguarda, VP Spain & Portugal & Italy - Missions Systems, at ICEYE, said: “Our participation in the 2025 NATO Tiger Meet is a testament to the operational capability of the ISR Cell to deliver data directly to decision-makers, and a mutual learning opportunity on maximizing the benefits of tactical SAR use into actionable insights. Working alongside the Portuguese Air Force, CTI Aeroespacial, and GEOSAT, we are proving how tactical space-based intelligence can be seamlessly integrated into modern military operations, enabling critical decisions to be made in minutes, not hours.”

General João Cartaxo Alves, Chief of Staff of Portuguese Air Force, said: "Integrating the space component into an exercise of the scale of the NATO Tiger Meet shows that using satellite data in operational environments is already a reality for the Air Force. This achievement reflects a sustained effort to position the Air Force in Space, now recognized as the 5th Operational Domain. This forward-looking approach places us at the cutting edge of military operations and significantly enhances our information superiority. The active involvement of companies such as ICEYE, a global leader in its field, is a clear recognition from the space industry of the Portuguese Air Force’s role, making this partnership a milestone in our path toward Space."

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