The contract involves a cross-border technical effort: the company's UK-based team will develop the resilient, anti-jamming multi-beam payload, featuring digital beamforming that allows for dynamic reconfiguration while in orbit. Simultaneously, the Montréal facility is tasked with manufacturing and testing advanced antenna solutions, including the analog repeater. Once these components are finalized, they will be shipped to Japan for assembly, integration, and testing by Mitsubishi Electric.
Mitsubishi Electric Taps MDA Space for Japanese Defence Satellite
Mitsubishi Electric has selected MDA Space to supply the core digital payload, antenna systems, and specialized subsystems for Japan’s next-generation defence communications satellite. The project, designed to replace the Kirameki-2 spacecraft in geostationary orbit, marks a significant expansion of the Canadian firm’s role in secure sovereign space infrastructure.
Beyond these core payloads, the satellite will incorporate MDA Space’s legacy hardware for thruster and reflector deployment. This collaboration aligns with broader efforts by the UK, Canada, and Japan to tighten trade and defence ties. The deal, which will be added to the company’s backlog in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, was praised by executives and government officials as a validation of Canada’s export strength in high-tech aerospace manufacturing.
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