Arctic Security: Strengthening Europe’s Sovereign Space Capabilities

With the Arctic region becoming increasingly important for European security, space-based capabilities are also playing a growing role in delivering the intelligence, connectivity and situational awareness required to operate across the region.

While onsite at Defence iQ's Arctic Security Summit 2026, Defence iQ Editor Joanne Swann sat down with Dr Gordon Wasilewski of Creotech Instruments to discuss Europe's technological sovereignty, the role of space-based ISR in Arctic Security, resilient supply chains and opportunities for greater industrial cooperation across Europe.

The filmed version of the interview is also available within the official Arctic Security Summit 2026 Post-Show Report, sponsored by Creotech Instruments. The report provides a complete overview of the event, including the organisations and senior stakeholders in attendance, key highlights and takeaways from across the conference, and further information on the Arctic Security Summit 2027.

How does Creotech's technology contribute to strengthening Europe's technological sovereignty, particularly in the security and defence domains for the Arctic?

We've been delivering sovereign capabilities in space, ISR and beyond for the past several years. We are the biggest space company in the country, but most importantly, the thing that differentiates us from others is that we're fully European-based.

We have European IP that's controlled by European shareholders, so there are no import-export restrictions when it comes to working with us. Most importantly, whoever works with us knows they can trust us and that they have full control of the technology we deliver to them.

In the broader Arctic domain, this is a contested area that requires significant effort when it comes to reconnaissance and intelligence. It's also an area that's deprived of infrastructure, data and sensors.

We come into this space with heritage. We're working with military partners, the European Space Agency and civilian governments, and we bring those technologies to whoever needs them in the region.

How can space-based capabilities such as Earth observation and satellite systems enhance Arctic Security and operational effectiveness?

This really comes down to the challenge of denied infrastructure. It's very difficult to maintain a sensor network that's dense enough to provide the intelligence required to control this domain solely from land, air and sea.

That's where space comes into play because it's the only domain that can guarantee those ISR capabilities, as well as communications and PNT.

All of these capabilities are becoming increasingly important in the Arctic, which, as I said before, is becoming a contested region, but also an area that's increasingly open to commercial activity, trade routes and resource development. This is an increasingly important region where data and intelligence are essential.

What opportunities do you see for industrial cooperation between Poland and Sweden in areas such as Earth observation, satellite infrastructure and European supply chains?

Most importantly, we share many common denominators with Sweden. We share the sea, we share the region, and we share the same threat – Russia. We also have industrial bases in both Poland and Sweden that are highly complementary.

I would say that's one of the main reasons collaboration between our countries is so important, so vital and so achievable, because we complement one another.

For instance, the Swedish Space Corporation can provide the ground segment, the means of communicating with spacecraft, and launch capabilities in northern Sweden. In Poland, we have our space segment with our HyperSat satellites.

Together, these capabilities complement each other and can provide meaningful capability for both Sweden and Poland, particularly through the broader cooperation that already exists between our countries.

Very recently, Poland and Sweden signed a major contract for the delivery of three submarines from Saab to Poland. Of course, this is a significant venture and marks the beginning of a new chapter in collaboration between Poland and Sweden.

How is Creotech contributing to a stronger and more resilient European space and defence industrial base?

Several years ago, we made the decision to base our supply chain entirely on European solutions, and that has proved to be a good decision because it's exactly what Europe is now rebuilding.

Europe is rebuilding sovereign capabilities based on European solutions across the wider ESA domain. We have a resilient, fully European, non-ITAR supply chain, with multiple redundancies across Europe through our European partners if required.

This is extremely important in the face of external threats, but also changing geopolitical circumstances, even within our relationships with allies. Supply chain resilience is therefore critically important, and that's exactly what we offer through our fully European technology.

Looking ahead, what partnerships will be most critical to delivering next-generation Arctic capabilities, and where do you see Creotech playing the biggest role?

Our role, as we communicated several weeks ago in our new strategy, is to become the biggest space systems integrator in this part of Europe. More broadly, we're on a mission to become the fourth-largest prime satellite integrator across Europe.

We provide the spacecraft, the platform, and the capability to integrate that platform with multiple different sensors, payloads, and ground and launch segments.

Our greatest strength lies in bringing all of those elements together into a capability that is compatible, competitive and, most importantly, sovereign and European.

What opportunities has the Arctic Security Summit provided to connect with military leaders, end users and industry stakeholders?

The most valuable aspect has been the opportunity to engage with so many different stakeholders, many of whom are either current users or future users of our technology.

Those conversations help shape the solutions that we provide, making them extremely valuable and important.

Of course, the visibility of our brand among so many important stakeholders across the Arctic and the wider NATO community is also invaluable.