The objective of the trilateral agreement is to introduce productized satellite platforms and constellation-scale production processes in Europe
- 4iG Space and Defence Technologies Zrt. (4iG SDT) and its subsidiary REMRED Zrt. (REMRED) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Apex Technology, Inc. (Apex), a leading U.S.-based satellite platform manufacturer, to develop satellite mass-production model in Europe.
- The partnership aims to establish a serial satellite manufacturing capability specifically designed to serve customers who need to deploy large constellations.
- This approach significantly reduces development costs and manufacturing lead times, while ensuring consistent quality standards.
- The collaboration builds on Apex’s experience in large-scale satellite manufacturing, combined with 4iG SDT’s and REMRED’s engineering expertise and system integration skills, which lay the groundwork for a competitive European satellite industry from development to deployment.
4iG Space and Defence Technologies Zrt. (4iG SDT) and its subsidiary REMRED Zrt. (REMRED) signed an MoU with Apex Technology, Inc., one of the leading American satellite platform developers. The cooperation aims to establish a scalable and competitive European satellite mass-production capability based on Apex’s experience mass-producing satellites in America.
“The collaboration announced today is about redefining what’s possible in high-rate satellite manufacturing for proliferated constellations,” said Apex CEO Ian Cinnamon. “By harnessing Apex’s proven mass-production enterprise with the innovation and ambition of our European partners, we’re accelerating the transition to a future where satellite constellations can be deployed at unprecedented speed and scale on a global basis.”
As part of the trilateral cooperation, the parties are exploring the possibility of establishing a joint venture and developing a manufacturing model optimized for satellite constellation applications. This model will transfer standardized and scalable mass-production principles, proven in the automotive industry, to satellite manufacturing. This approach can significantly reduce development and delivery timelines, ensure predictable quality standards and cost-efficient production, while meet the requirements of governmental, defense, and commercial customers worldwide. As a result of this cooperation, a fast, cost-effective, and progressively scalable satellite mass-production capability – unique in Europe – may be established, tailored to the needs of the global satellite market. This includes short delivery lead times (12–18-month delivery cycles) and solutions based on flight-proven technologies as well as the delivery of satellite constellations.
The companies participating in the partnership contribute complementary, high value-added capabilities to the achievement of the shared objectives. Apex provides serial–production–optimized satellite platforms that are already flight-proven, along with their industrial-scale integration and manufacturing processes, which currently enable the production of more than one hundred satellite platforms annually. REMRED Zrt. strengthens the development and manufacturing base with engineering expertise aligned with European space industry standards, as well as integration and testing infrastructure built around the REMTECH Center in Martonvásár. 4iG SDT supports collaboration through vertical integration, covering nearly the entire satellite value chain, with program integration capabilities and extensive international market access.
“One of the key objectives of our collaboration is to implement a mindset similar to that was used for Ford Model T mass production in the European satellite market. This approach has already been successfully adopted by Apex in the American space industry. This method can fundamentally change the pace of satellite development and manufacturing, as well as the cost structure, just as it had revolutionized the automotive industry one hundred years ago. Building on Apex’s experience, we are exploring an industry model that can transform the European space industry through the active involvement of Hungarian expertise,” said István Sárhegyi Dr, CEO of 4iG Space and Defence Technologies.
As part of the cooperation, the parties are also exploring the possibility of a joint demonstration satellite mission, which – building on Apex’s flight-proven technologies – would support rapid space heritage and lay the groundwork for the launch of subsequent constellation programs. The demonstration mission may be implemented through the development and qualification process aligned with European standards.
The cooperation between the three companies creates the opportunity for the partners to develop the foundations of a competitive European satellite industry. In the coming period, experts will prepare detailed technical and business analyses to determine possible implementation models and the gradual expansion of manufacturing capacities in Hungary and Europe.
