e-GEOS, a joint venture between the Italian Space Agency (20%) and Telespazio (80%), part of the Leonardo Group, has entered into a multi-year cooperation, marketing and distribution agreement with VENG, an Argentine company 97% owned by the Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (CONAE), responsible for the distribution of data from the SAOCOM (Satélite Argentino de Observación Con Microondas) satellite constellation, with distribution in the Europe and Mediterranean area managed by the Italian Space Agency (ASI).
The new agreement consolidates the e-GEOS role as a global distributor of SAOCOM satellite SAR data, already recognized in the collaboration initiated in 2021 between the Italian company and VENG. The SAOCOM constellation, consisting of the SAOCOM 1A and 1B L-band radar satellites, together with the first- and second-generation satellites of the Italian COSMO-SkyMed constellation of the Italian Space Agency and the Italian Ministry of Defence, constitutes the Italian-Argentine Satellite System for Emergency Management (SIASGE). The system, developed jointly by ASI and CONAE, is the first integrated European-American radar constellation dedicated to emergency management.
“The new agreement for the distribution of SAOCOM data consolidates the e-GEOS satellite data portfolio, unparalleled in its breadth and complementarity, thus increasingly enabling advanced solutions to support global strategic priorities, from emergency management to sustainable development”, C. Milena A. Lerario, CEO of e-GEOS, commented. "The agreement also demonstrates the strategic value of industrial cooperation between Italy and Argentina, made possible by the growing institutional dialogue between the space agencies and the contribution of the two Countries' industrial excellence. Along this path, e-GEOS promotes long-term international partnerships focused on innovation and the growth of shared capabilities, as part of Leonardo's commitment in Argentina, where it has been active in the space sector for over thirty years through Telespazio Argentina".
“This renewed agreement between VENG and e-GEOS reinforces the international positioning of the SAOCOM constellation and highlights the unique value of L-band SAR technology,” said Laureano Quiroga, General Manager of VENG. “The penetration capability of this wavelength enables advanced soil moisture analysis, a critical variable for the global agricultural sector while our interferometric (InSAR) solutions deliver centimetric and sub-centimetric precision for infrastructure stability and ground deformation monitoring across critical infrastructure and natural resource management applications, including mining and energy operations. In addition, SAOCOM data have proven highly effective for maritime surveillance and oil spill detection, supporting environmental protection and risk management worldwide. Through this partnership, we aim to further expand access to these strategic capabilities across e-GEOS’s global markets. Our teams have been working closely together for years, demonstrating a high level of professionalism and technical expertise”.
The high-resolution quadripolar L-band satellites SAOCOM 1A and SAOCOM 1B provide day and night observation capabilities in all weather conditions; the L-band wavelength allows penetration of vegetation cover and soil, thus significantly expanding the range of potential applications.
During the previous collaboration, e-GEOS noted growing demand for SAOCOM data, particularly for interferometric applications related to the monitoring of infrastructure and ground movements, oil spill detection and mining management. Another area of strong interest includes water resource management, with a focus on network leak detection. The agreement has enabled VENG to consolidate its presence in international markets by leveraging Argentina's technological excellence and the commercial potential of SAOCOM products.
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