Rafael and Reflex Aerospace Announce Strategic Partnership at ILA Berlin 2026
Introducing a New Class of Very High Revisit & Very High Resolutions Constellation (VHR²C) Focused Space Intelligent Solutions
Berlin, June 2026 – Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Reflex Aerospace announced today a strategic co-development partnership and introduced a new class of Very High Resolution and Very High Revisit satellite constellation (VHR²C). The satellite system is designed for rapid production at large constellation scale, directly addressing the growing operational demands for persistent, actionable intelligence from space.
From left to right:
Rafael - D, General Manager, Space Business Unit, Intelligence, Space & Cyber Division | Guy Oren, Colonel (Res) Vice President, Intelligence, Space & Cyber Division | Adi Dulberg, Executive Vice President, General Manager, C4ISR System Division
Reflex: Walter Ballheimer, CEO | Dennis Moore, CCO | Anjali Ramachandra, VP Strategy and Business Development
Concept Rendering of Mission Satellite
The announcement builds on a proven operational foundation. Rafael’s, space proven, up to 30cm Very High Resolution electro-optical payload, has already been successfully launched and is currently operational, delivering exquisite VHR imagery to top-tier customers. This in-orbit heritage, spanning eight successful electro-optical missions, underpins the development and robustness of the satellite system, and represents Rafael’s tangible, space proven capability in both the commercial and defense space markets.
"Modern defense and intelligence customers cannot afford to wait many hours for a revisit or accept trade-offs between resolution and responsiveness. We built this new class of satellites to eliminate that trade-off. This is a strategic play for Rafael. We laid the foundation, and now our plans are in motion. Together with our partner Reflex, we are perfectly positioned to address the surging demand for satellite capabilities and the global push for sovereignty. By bringing together proven in-orbit payload and satellite heritage, AI-driven exploitation, and rapid manufacturing infrastructure to deploy at constellation scale, Rafael and Reflex have created a high revisit focused end-to-end system that matches the pace of today's threat environment — and is ready to scale with tomorrow's."
— Guy Oren, Vice President, Intelligence, Space & Cyber Directorate at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
"This new joint satellite system represents exactly the kind of mission Reflex was built for. Our platform architecture is designed to maximize payload performance while enabling the rapid production timelines that modern intelligence requirements demand. Partnering with Rafael – whose electro-optical and intelligence heritage is unmatched – allows us to bring a truly best-in-class constellation to market at a pace the industry hasn't seen before."
— Walter Ballheimer, CEO Reflex Aerospace
A New Breed of Space Capability
Sample Payload Image - Additional Images Available upon Request
The threat environment has fundamentally shifted. Faster-moving targets, larger and more complex areas of interest, smaller objects of significance, and increasingly adaptive adversaries have created intelligence requirements that existing satellite architectures were not designed to meet. Rafael’s comprehensive VHR²C solution is a direct response to this shift.
The satellite delivers up to 30 cm resolution imagery with the agility and revisit rates demanded by modern intelligence collection. The Reflex platform, engineered for adaptability and optimized to maximize payload performance, is an ideal match for the VHR2C payload. Beyond enabling rapid manufacturing and deployment, the platform delivers the stability, power, and performance required by this best-in-class imaging solution. Together, they provide unparalleled intelligence capabilities that set a new benchmark in the market. The Satellite is powered by Rafael’s proprietary electric propulsion technology, with proven in-orbit flight heritage, and integrates Rafael’s battle-proven exploitation and persistent intelligence capabilities throughout the system architecture.
The Rafael–Reflex Partnership
Together, Rafael and Reflex Aerospace bring world-class electro-optical payload expertise and a highly adaptable satellite performance and manufacturing infrastructure designed for rapid production at scale. The two companies have co-funded and co-developed the satellite system as a platform built to address the growing global demand for high-quality, persistent satellite imagery.
The first satellite is scheduled for launch as early as Q4 2027. Rafael and Reflex Aerospace will share further details on the combined solution and its full range of capabilities in the coming months.
About Reflex Aerospace
Reflex Aerospace is a manufacturer of high-performance, adaptable satellite platforms for commercial and defense applications. Based in Berlin and Munich, the company specializes in applying modern manufacturing techniques to reduce lead times and improve performance for critically important space infrastructure. Reflex Aerospace is committed to enhancing Europe’s strategic autonomy through innovation, speed, and sovereign capability development.
More information can be found at www.reflexaerospace.com
About Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. designs, develops, manufactures, and supplies a wide range of high-tech defense systems for air, land, sea, and space applications. For over 70 years, Rafael’s innovations have been grounded in extensive operational experience and a deep understanding of evolving combat requirements, enabling the rapid development of effective solutions to complex challenges across multiple domains.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Reflex Aerospace
press@reflexaerospace.com
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.
Daniel Tsemach
DANIELT5@rafael.co.il
