Bulgaria offers the EU a project for monitoring the Earth with nanosatellites

Bulgaria has proposed a project to monitor the earth's surface with nanosatellite technologies and to be included in the European Defense Investment Program (EDIP). Defense Chief Admiral Emil Eftimov launched the idea during a meeting of the European Union's Military Committee in Budapest, Hungary. According to him, this type of system can help EU military missions and operations.

Bulgaria's proposal comes in the context of current assessments related to security and the reported shortage of critical operational capabilities.

Admiral Eftimov also reminded that his country is developing a project to send a constellation of satellites into low Earth orbit, which will serve both in terms of security and for the development of the Bulgarian economy. The public first heard about the joint initiative between the ministries of defense and the economy about a year ago.

The satellites will allow "surveillance of critical infrastructure, of maritime, coastal and other areas, with the aim of early warning of potential crisis situations in the interest of both national security and defense, as well as the security of our allies and partners," commented Admiral Eftimov, cited by the Ministry of Defense.

Nanosatellite systems have gained increasing popularity in recent years. They have not only military but also wide civil applications. And Bulgaria happens to be the home of one of the most promising and prosperous nanosatellite companies - EnduroSat.

According to a report by Emergen Research, the global nanosatellite market is expected to reach USD 1.34 billion in 2030 and register a 20.4% revenue growth during the forecast period. Growing demand for Earth observation applications and an increasing number of companies involved in aeronautics, communications, and satellite development are factors driving the revenue growth of the global nanosatellite market.

Nanosatellites are miniature artificial satellites that weigh less than 10 kg. They are more convenient and take less time to build than conventional satellites due to their smaller size. They are launched at lower altitudes, and the cost of launching them into space is also relatively lower. These devices move at high speed and orbit the Earth in a polar orbit. Nanosatellites are used for purposes such as remote sensing, earth observation, and communication, among others.

Translated by Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov