Europe’s First Commercial Unfurling Antenna Reflector to Fly on GEO Satellite
Swiss-German Partnership Advances Direct-to-Device Broadcasting From Geostationary Orbit
A contract between Swiss satellite manufacturer SWISSto12 and Munich-based space subsystem consortium HPS/LSS will produce the first large deployable antenna reflector built in Europe for a commercial geostationary telecommunications satellite — a milestone that also enables what the partners describe as the world’s first direct-to-device media broadcasting capability from geostationary orbit.
“(T)his contract is a prime example of how strong collaboration will be translated into advancing the next-generation of connectivity — particularly within the direct-to-device domain.”
Laurent Jaffart, ESA
The large deployable reflector subsystem (LDRS) will fly aboard NEASTAR-1, a mission built on SWISSto12’s HummingSat compact GEO satellite platform. The 5-meter-diameter L-band antenna reflector, including a deployment arm and associated subassemblies, is the product of more than 15 years of development under the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Advanced Research in Telecommunications (ARTES) program, ESA’s Earth Observation Technology Development activities, and the EU’s Horizon 2020 program. The NEASTAR-1 LDRS contract is co-funded by ESA, with core funding from the German Space Agency within the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and additional contributions from other ESA member states.
“Collaboration with HPS/LSS was fast and effective from the first day,” said Emile de Rijk, CEO and founder of SWISSto12. “They have demonstrated a strong technical heritage and proven track record in building LDRS, notably for ESA missions, underscoring the progress of ESA and DLR’s vision to develop resilient, sovereign space capabilities.”
The deal adds HPS/LSS to a growing German supply chain contributing to the HummingSat program, which already includes ASP, AST, DLR, Tesat, Thales Germany, Jena Optronik, and Rockwell Collins Germany.
Ernst K. Pfeiffer, CEO of HPS GmbH, said the consortium is “proud to contribute to European technological sovereignty through this Swiss-German collaboration,” noting that the contract was executed just four months after key German ESA decisions were made.
“LSS, together with HPS, is proud to pioneer LDRS technology in Europe for applications in communications, reconnaissance, and observation,” added Leri Datashvili, co-CEO and founder of LSS GmbH. “Thanks to the trust of commercial customers, the German Space Agency, and ESA, we are now delivering this strategic European product to global programs.”
Laurent Jaffart, ESA’s Director of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity, said the contract demonstrates how long-term institutional investment translates into market-ready technology. “By leveraging Europe’s industrial excellence within two of our key Member States, this contract is a prime example of how strong collaboration will be translated into advancing the next-generation of connectivity — particularly within the direct-to-device domain.”
SWISSto12 reported revenue of approximately $120.6 million in 2025 and is currently delivering seven HummingSat GEO platforms to global operators, recording compound annual revenue growth of 110% since 2022. HPS/LSS is simultaneously developing an 8-meter LDRS for ESA and the EU’s Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer Mission, targeting frequency bands up to Ka-band.
The NEASTAR-1 mission underscores a broader strategic positioning by European satellite companies to build advanced end-to-end space systems for European commercial and government customers — aligning with the German Federal Government’s Space Strategy and its priorities around secure communications.