Photo: iceye.com
Director of Ukrainian company Stetman, Dmytro Stetsenko, announced that the company is working on creating its own satellite constellation in low Earth orbit (LEO). This was reported by Defender Media.
What the company does
Founded in 2023, Stetman has been financed through private investments and European loans. The company supplies satellite communication equipment for the military, police, emergency services, medical teams, and other government agencies.
Its product line includes around 30 solutions, such as:
- standard Starlink terminals
- a modified Starmod version adapted for military use and resistant to electronic warfare
- UASAT Geo satellite terminals operating via the Hughes Jupiter satellite in geostationary orbit
Satellite launch plans
The company plans to deploy a constellation at an altitude of about 550 km, which allows for lower latency compared to geostationary satellites, though it requires a larger number of spacecraft.
- A test satellite is scheduled for launch in October 2026
- Launch services will be provided by SpaceX
- Full deployment is expected to begin in 2027 and take about three years
- The constellation will consist of approximately 360 satellites
Project cost
According to company representatives:
- manufacturing and launching one satellite costs several million euros
- experts estimate $2–3 million per satellite
- a Falcon 9 rocket launch is priced at around $60–70 million, capable of deploying dozens of satellites at once
Who the network is for
The future network is designed primarily for critical state infrastructure, not mass consumer use.
Stetman is also exploring partnerships with European countries. The company has reported interest from the United Kingdom and Germany, suggesting that the system could eventually provide services not only to Ukraine but also to its allies.
