Japan’s secret satellite weapon now in Ukraine’s ‘war hands’
High above the Earth, a small Japanese satellite glides silently through the void, its 3.6-meter antenna unfurled like a metallic flower. Unlike traditional imaging satellites that rely on visible light, this one pierces clouds, fog, and darkness with microwave signals, capturing razor-sharp radar images of the ground.
On April 21, 2025, Japan announced it would share these images—produced by synthetic aperture radar [SAR] satellites operated by the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space [iQPS]—with Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, known as the GUR. This marks the first time Japan has ever shared such geospatial intelligence with any foreign nation, a decision that could reshape how Ukraine conducts surveillance in its ongoing conflict.
The agreement, reported by Intelligence Online, underscores a technological leap in satellite imagery and highlights Japan’s cautious but growing role in global security cooperation.
The significance of this development lies in the unique capabilities of SAR technology. Unlike optical satellites, which require clear skies and daylight to capture usable images, SAR satellites emit microwave pulses that bounce off the Earth’s surface and return to the satellite, creating detailed two- or three-dimensional maps.
This allows them to “see” through adverse weather and at any time of day or night, making them invaluable for military applications where timing and conditions are unpredictable. For Ukraine, which has been locked in a grueling war since Russia’s invasion in 2022, access to such data could enhance its ability to track troop movements, monitor supply lines, and assess damage to critical infrastructure, even in the harshest conditions of winter or under heavy cloud cover.
The iQPS satellites at the heart of this agreement represent a remarkable achievement in aerospace engineering. Founded in 2005 as a spinoff from Kyushu University, iQPS aimed to establish a space industry in Japan’s southwestern Kyushu region.
The company’s flagship QPS-SAR satellites weigh just 100 kilograms, a fraction of the several-ton behemoths traditionally used for SAR imaging. Despite their small size, these satellites achieve a resolution of 46 centimeters, capable of distinguishing objects smaller than a car.
This is made possible by a lightweight, deployable parabolic antenna that folds to a compact 80 centimeters for launch and expands to 3.6 meters in orbit. The antenna’s metallic mesh design, paired with advanced radar systems, allows iQPS to produce high-quality images at a cost significantly lower than conventional SAR satellites, which can run into tens of billions of yen.
According to iQPS, their satellites are one-hundredth the cost of traditional models, a breakthrough that has drawn attention from both commercial and military sectors.
The technical specifications of the QPS-SAR satellites are worth examining in detail, as they form the backbone of Japan’s contribution to Ukraine. Each satellite operates in low Earth orbit, approximately 600 kilometers above the surface, and uses an X-band radar system to transmit and receive microwave signals.
The satellites feature two observation modes: Stripmap Mode for wide-area coverage and Spotlight Mode for high-resolution imaging of specific targets. The deployable antenna, a patented innovation, consists of a spring-loaded mechanism that ensures a seamless, bowl-shaped surface in orbit, minimizing signal distortion.
Since the launch of their first satellite, Izanagi, in December 2019, iQPS has refined its technology, increasing the antenna’s rib count to improve surface precision and boosting radar performance. By April 2025, iQPS will operate five satellites, with plans to launch a seventh by late 2026 and a full constellation of 24 by 2027, aiming to provide near-real-time imagery of any point on Earth every 10 minutes.
For Ukraine’s GUR, the operational advantages of SAR imagery are profound. The ability to monitor targets in darkness or through heavy snow is particularly critical in eastern Ukraine, where winter campaigns often unfold under challenging conditions.
SAR data can reveal the heat signatures of running engines, detect camouflaged vehicles, or map changes in terrain caused by artillery strikes. In a 2024 Newsweek report, Ukraine’s GUR noted that SAR satellites were being used to “directly prepare strikes on the enemy,” with nearly two-fifths of imagery from Finland’s ICEYE satellites contributing to attacks that caused billions of dollars in damage.
The addition of iQPS data could amplify these capabilities, enabling GUR to track Russian logistics routes, identify fortified positions, or verify high-value targets with greater precision. The agreement with Japan includes a two- to three-month timeline to integrate iQPS systems into Ukrainian intelligence platforms, ensuring that GUR can process and analyze the incoming data effectively.
Japan’s decision to share this technology with Ukraine is a departure from its historically cautious approach to intelligence sharing. While Tokyo has long maintained a robust space program, its focus has traditionally been on domestic priorities, such as disaster monitoring in a country prone to earthquakes, typhoons, and volcanic eruptions.
The 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, for instance, saw iQPS satellites provide high-resolution images to aid government and media response efforts, demonstrating their utility in crisis situations. The move to share SAR data with a foreign military, however, reflects a broader shift in Japan’s aerospace ambitions.
Intelligence Online reported that negotiations between Japanese and Ukrainian officials began in late February 2025, spurred by a temporary pause in U.S. intelligence sharing with Kyiv earlier that year. Although U.S. support resumed by mid-March, the incident underscored Ukraine’s need to diversify its intelligence sources, prompting Japan to step into the breach.
To understand the context of this agreement, it’s worth comparing iQPS’s capabilities with those of other SAR providers supporting Ukraine. Finland’s ICEYE, Germany’s SAR-Lupe and SARah, and Italy’s COSMO-SkyMed constellations have been supplying Kyiv with radar imagery since at least 2022.
ICEYE, a Finnish startup, operates the world’s largest SAR constellation, with satellites that achieve resolutions similar to iQPS’s 46 centimeters. Germany’s SAR-Lupe system, designed for military reconnaissance, offers high-resolution imaging but is limited by its smaller constellation size. Italy’s COSMO-SkyMed, a dual-use system, provides both civilian and military imagery, with a focus on rapid revisit times.
While these systems have bolstered Ukraine’s intelligence capabilities, iQPS’s contribution stands out for its compact satellite design and cost efficiency, which could set a new standard for small-scale SAR operators. Unlike optical systems like France’s Pléiades Neo or commercial U.S. providers Maxar and BlackSky, which struggle with cloud cover and nighttime limitations, SAR systems offer persistent surveillance, making them a critical asset in modern warfare.
The historical evolution of SAR technology provides further context for Japan’s role. Developed in the 1950s for military reconnaissance, SAR was initially the domain of superpowers like the United States and the Soviet Union, whose large, expensive satellites dominated the field.
The U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, for instance, has long relied on SAR for global surveillance, with systems like the Lacrosse satellites providing sub-meter resolution. In recent decades, however, advancements in miniaturization and antenna design have democratized SAR, enabling smaller nations and private companies to enter the market.
Japan’s iQPS is a prime example, building on decades of academic research at Kyushu University to create satellites that rival the capabilities of larger systems at a fraction of the cost. This trend mirrors developments elsewhere, such as Canada’s RADARSAT program, which has provided civilian SAR imagery since the 1990s, and China’s growing constellation of military SAR satellites, which pose a competitive challenge in the Indo-Pacific.
Japan’s cautious entry into intelligence sharing also reflects its cultural and legal constraints. The country’s post-World War II constitution emphasizes pacifism, and its space policy has historically prioritized non-military applications.
The decision to share SAR data with Ukraine, while not a direct military act, represents a significant step toward greater international engagement. This move aligns with Japan’s broader efforts to strengthen its geospatial intelligence capabilities, initially aimed at supporting the Quad alliance [Japan, Australia, India, and the United States] in monitoring regional threats.
The agreement with Ukraine, however, suggests Tokyo is willing to expand its role beyond traditional alliances, potentially setting a precedent for future cooperation.
Looking ahead, the partnership between iQPS and Ukraine could have far-reaching implications for the global satellite industry. The success of iQPS’s lightweight, low-cost SAR satellites challenges the dominance of traditional aerospace giants, proving that small players can deliver high-impact solutions.
As iQPS expands its constellation, it aims to achieve near-continuous surveillance, a capability previously reserved for state-backed programs. This could attract interest from other nations seeking affordable intelligence solutions, particularly in regions prone to conflict or natural disasters.
For Ukraine, the addition of Japanese SAR data reduces its reliance on Western providers, offering a hedge against future disruptions in U.S. or European support. The two- to three-month integration period will be critical, as GUR must adapt its systems to handle the influx of new data, a process that could strain its technical resources but ultimately enhance its operational flexibility.
The rise of commercial SAR operators like iQPS also raises questions about the future of military intelligence. As private companies gain the ability to provide near-real-time imagery, governments may increasingly turn to commercial providers rather than investing in costly national programs.
This shift could democratize access to intelligence but also complicate oversight, as sensitive data becomes available to a wider range of actors. For now, Japan’s decision to share SAR imagery with Ukraine represents a technical and strategic milestone, bridging cutting-edge technology with real-world military needs.
In reflecting on this development, the partnership between Japan and Ukraine signals a subtle but profound shift in the landscape of global intelligence. The ability of a small Japanese startup to deliver world-class SAR imagery underscores the rapid pace of innovation in the space sector, where agility and ingenuity are beginning to outpace sheer scale.
For Ukraine, the influx of Japanese data offers a tactical edge, enabling its forces to operate with greater precision in a conflict where information is as critical as firepower. Yet the broader implications—of a traditionally reserved nation like Japan stepping onto the global stage, and of private companies reshaping military intelligence—suggest that this agreement is more than a footnote in an ongoing war.
It is a glimpse into a future where the boundaries of technology, security, and cooperation are being redrawn. As iQPS’s satellites continue to scan the Earth, one wonders: who else might benefit from their unblinking gaze, and how will this new era of accessible intelligence shape the conflicts of tomorrow.
Bulgarian military