NEWS
CTI Aeroespacial is involved in several projects and partnerships with various public and private entities to achieve its goal of fostering collaboration between defence and industry. As such, some of the latest news and developments are featured here:
CTI Aeroespacial takes part in the 2026 Aerospace Conference
03/07/2026
CTI Aeroespacial attended the 2026 Aerospace Conference, which took place on 30 June at the Francisco Sampaio Auditorium of the Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo. The 8th edition of the event, promoted by the Portuguese Air Force as part of its 74th anniversary celebrations, brought together experts from academia, industry and the armed forces to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the aerospace domain.
The programme included panels dedicated to surveillance and sovereignty in the Atlantic, multidomain integration and information superiority, as well as the challenges of innovation and talent development in the sector. The New Space Portugal Agenda was also presented, with particular focus on the development of national capabilities in the space sector and its potential for consolidation in the operational domain. The event was supported by CGI, a global technology and consulting company, which was present as a funder and institutional partner of the initiative.
CTI Aeroespacial's participation in the 2026 Aerospace Conference is part of its strategy of engagement with the national ecosystem of the sector, reinforcing the articulation between the Air Force, the defence industry and academia. The initiative established itself as a space for knowledge sharing and strategic projection of the country in the future of space and defence.
Aerospace Conference
CTI Aeroespacial takes part in the 3rd Meeting of the PRR Mobilising Agendas
01/07/2026
CTI Aeroespacial took part in the 3rd Meeting of the Mobilising Agendas, promoted by IAPMEI within the scope of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR C5). The event, held under the motto "Innovation moves the country", gave thousands of visitors a clear view of the products, processes and services already delivered under the 51 contracted mobilising agendas.
The results presented show a high level of project completion: of the 1,270 PPS foreseen, 1,087 already have execution levels equal to or greater than 80%. The 51 mobilising agendas involve 1,098 co-promoters, of which 874 are companies and 224 are entities from academia, the scientific and technological system and public administration. They are expected to have an impact of over €8 billion in turnover by 2026, with the creation of 11,000 new qualified jobs and an estimated contribution to GDP of between 2.5% and 3%.
CTI Aeroespacial, as an entity involved in mobilising agendas in the aeronautics and space sectors, was represented at the event, which was attended by the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, and the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, among other government members. The results showcase reinforces the role of the mobilising agendas as one of the pillars of the PRR, mobilising and strengthening the country's scientific and technological capabilities through innovative and collaborative projects developed in consortium.
Panel at the 3rd Meeting of the Mobilising Agendas
CTI Aeroespacial acquires two more SAR satellites for the Atlantic Constellation
18/06/2026
CTI Aeroespacial has acquired two more high-resolution satellites from the Finnish company ICEYE, under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), which will now be operated by the Portuguese Air Force. With this acquisition, the Atlantic Constellation now comprises a total of four satellites, following the launch of the first two in the first half of the year.
The new satellites, equipped with SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) technology, will be able to capture high-resolution imagery regardless of weather or light conditions, including nighttime and overcast periods. They will be placed in a low-inclined orbit, with a particular focus on supporting the archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores, reinforcing the monitoring of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the maritime domain of the Atlantic.
The Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force, General Sérgio da Costa Pereira, emphasised that this acquisition "reinforces Portugal's freedom of action". ICEYE also highlighted that the four satellites will enable the Air Force "to assign missions and collect data more quickly, transforming its sovereign space assets into a high-speed constellation".
Image from a Portuguese Air Force SAR Satellite
CTI Aeroespacial presents LUS‑222 and the Atlantic Constellation at LAAD 2025
06/04/2026
CTI Aeroespacial attended LAAD Defense & Security 2025, the largest defence and security fair in Latin America, held between 30 March and 6 April in Rio de Janeiro. The Centre's delegation, composed of members from CTI and CEiiA, aimed to promote the LUS‑222 aircraft project and the capabilities of the Atlantic Constellation to government entities and sector operators in the region.
During the fair, the team held bilateral meetings with representatives from Air Forces and Ministries of Defence of over a dozen countries, including Chile, Colombia, Angola, Uruguay, Argentina, Ecuador, Cape Verde, Egypt, Peru, Paraguay, Ghana, Morocco, the Dominican Republic and Panama. The programme also included visits from high-ranking officials to the CTI pavilion, such as the Secretary of State for National Defence, the Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force and the Commander of the Angolan Air Force. In addition to the meetings, promotional materials were made available, including flyers and videos about the LUS‑222, notably a broadcast by Globo network that covered the project.
The LUS‑222 is the first aircraft designed and developed in Portugal, with capacity to carry 19 passengers or up to two tonnes of cargo, and suited for civil and military missions, such as medical evacuation, search and rescue, and cargo airdrop. The project, representing an investment of 220 million euros, includes the construction of a factory in Ponte de Sor with capacity to produce up to 12 aircraft per year. In the Space domain, CTI presented the specifications of the Atlântico Constellation and discussed applications for urban and coastal monitoring with Brazilian security forces. The participation in LAAD 2025 is part of CTI Aeroespacial's internationalisation strategy, reinforcing Portugal's positioning in the global defence and space market.
CTI Aeroespacial's showcase during LAAD 2025
CTI Aeroespacial celebrates launch of the first SAR satellite of the Atlantic Constellation
30/03/2026
CTI Aeroespacial saw its first SAR satellite, CA-01, launched into orbit on 30 March, on the Transporter 16 mission from California. Acquired under the PRR within the scope of the New Space Portugal Agenda, the satellite represents the first step towards building a sovereign Earth observation capability and the materialisation of the contract signed in June 2025 with ICEYE.
CA-01 is the first satellite with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology of the Atlantic Constellation, ensuring continuous observation of national territory and the EEZ regardless of weather or light conditions. Its entry into operation, currently in the commissioning phase, will enable surveillance, defence, civil protection and emergency response missions, with daily revisits and adequate resolution for threat detection and environmental monitoring.
With this launch, CTI Aeroespacial consolidates its role as a link between academia, industry and defence, paving the way for the expansion of the constellation to 26 satellites (12 SAR and 14 optical). CA-01 is the first of several satellites that Portugal will place in orbit, positioning the country at the forefront of the new European space economy.
Portuguese Air Force video about the CA-01 Launch
CTI Aeroespacial attends the 18th European Space Conference
06/02/2026
CTI Aeroespacial attended the 18th edition of the European Space Conference, which took place between 26 and 28 January at the SQUARE Brussels Meeting Centre, in Brussels. The trip, carried out within the scope of the New Space Portugal Agenda, aimed to follow the developments and trends of the European space ecosystem, aligning the Centre's strategy with national and European objectives and maximising the impact of PRR investment in the Atlântico Constellation.
Over the three days of the event, the Centre attended lectures and roundtables on topics directly related to the Work Packages in which CTI Aeroespacial participates, namely Earth Observation, space access, dual-use applications and collaboration between government agencies and the commercial sector. The participation also included networking moments, such as coffee-breaks and working lunches, which allowed new contacts to be established with key players in the space and sovereignty domains, reinforcing the positioning of CTI and the Atlantic Constellation within the European landscape.
The mission in Brussels is part of CTI Aeroespacial's strategy to consolidate its presence in the European space ecosystem, monitoring sector dynamics and building bridges that enhance the development of national capabilities, such as the SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) component that complements the Atlantic Constellation.
Co-promoters of the New Space Portugal Agenda present at the 18th European Space Conference
CTI Aeroespacial takes part in workshop on Aeronautics and Microelectronics
09/12/2025
TI Aeroespacial attended the 10th Thematic Workshop "Aeronautics and Microelectronics", held on 9 December 2025 in Ponte de Sor. The event was promoted by Inova‑Ria within the scope of the Microelectronics Agenda and featured the participation of Major‑General Aeronautical Engineer José Lourenço da Saúde, who took part in the third panel of the programme.
CTI Aeroespacial was represented in Panel 3 – "Future Challenges", alongside Open Cosmos, IEFP Alentejo, Neuraspace and Critical Software. Moderation was carried out by the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal. The programme also included two other panels, one on the strategic vision for Portugal in aeronautics and microelectronics and another on applied technological innovation, with speakers from Tekever, Thales, Evoleo and LD Helmet, among others. The closing session featured representatives from the Ministry of Economy and Territorial Cohesion and the Municipality of Ponte de Sor.
Inova‑Ria is a business association for an innovation network in Aveiro, founded in 2003. It operates in the creation and consolidation of a cluster in the areas of Information, Communication and Electronics Technologies, bringing together around 80 associates and over 4,000 qualified professionals. The association promotes technological development and economic growth, connecting companies, educational institutions and research centres.
Guest speaker for the third panel
CTI Aeroespacial signs contract for first national SAR satellite
12/06/2025
CTI Aeroespacial signed at the 12th of June of 2025, in Monsanto, the contract for the acquisition of the first national SAR satellite, which will be operated by the Portuguese Air Force. The agreement with ICEYE, financed by the PRR, guarantees the Atlântico Constellation Earth observation capability in any weather or light conditions.
At the same ceremony, CTI Aeroespacial also signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with ICEYE aimed at technical support so that Portugal may, in the future, hold its own production capacity for such satellites. This is the first SAR satellite of the Atlantic Constellation, a Portuguese-Spanish project that comprises 26 high and very high resolution satellites, with intra‑daily revisit.
The event was attended by the President of CTI Aeroespacial, João Rebelo, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General João Cartaxo Alves, the CEO of CEiiA, José Felizardo, and the CEO of ICEYE, Rafal Modrzewski, among other entities. The Chief of Staff described the moment as historic, stressing that this innovation reinforces the autonomous surveillance capability of the national territory and will project Portugal as a reference in the new space economy, also anticipating the construction of an aerospace hub in Alverca that will bring together military personnel, entrepreneurs and academics.
Celebration of the signing of the contract for the acquisition of the first national SAR satellite
