4iG and Northrop Grumman sign multimillion dollar agreement for first Hungarian communications satellite

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY..April 8, 2026..//REDPRESSWIRE// -4iG Space and Defence Technologies signs strategic agreements with Northrop Grumman, L3Harris Technologies and Apex Technology during the U.S. Vice President’s visit to Budapest

• During the visit of J. D. Vance, Vice President of the United States, and his delegation to Budapest, several major space and defence industry agreements involving 4iG Space and Defence Technologies (4iG S&D) are signed, enhancing economic, security and technological cooperation between Hungary and the United States.
• As part of these agreements, 4iG S&D and Northrop Grumman entered into the following:
  – Under the HUSAT programme, Northrop Grumman begins working on Hungary’s first geostationary communications satellite (HUGEO), based on the flight-proven GEOStar-3 platform. Scheduled for delivery in 2030, the project represents the largest international collaboration within the HUSAT programme.
  – In addition, the companies are expanding the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed last December, extending the intention to cooperate beyond space industry projects to include joint programmes in counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS), advanced weapons and precision guidance systems.
• As part of transatlantic cooperation, 4iG S&D also signed an agreement with L3Harris Technologies, opening new opportunities in defence digitalisation and local industrial integration of HIMARS systems, while reinforcing its role in the regional development of NATO-compatible technologies.
• 4iG S&D also signed an agreement with leading U.S. small satellite platform manufacturer Apex Technology on the framework conditions for establishing a joint venture. The initiative aims to develop a European-based, scalable small satellite manufacturing capacity, designed to support multi-satellite systems (constellations).

In the presence of Minister of National Economy Márton Nagy, a multi-hundred million dollar agreement package signed between 4iG Space and Defense Technologies Ltd. (4iG SDT) and Northrop Grumman strengthens 4iG SDT’s position in the transatlantic space and defense industrial value chains.

The HUSAT program is 4iG SDT’s own satellite program, which ensures Hungary’s space technology sovereignty in the fields of communication and Earth observation space technologies. The program will launch one geostationary communication satellite (HUGEO) and eight low-Earth orbit Earth observation satellites (HULEO) by 2030: the geostationary communication satellite is manufactured by Northrop Grumman, while the eight Earth observation satellites will be manufactured by 4iG SDT, building on its own development and manufacturing capabilities, at its Martonvásár technology center, the delivery of which is expected in the third quarter of 2026. The supplier structure of the program has already been established: the ground antenna system is provided by German Vertex, the imaging systems by South Korean TelePIX, and the SAR radar technology by Italian MetaSensing.

As the manufacturer of the geostationary satellite element of the HUSAT program, Northrop Grumman provides a solution based on the GEOStar-3 platform, which has been proven in national security and dual-use environments, and is state-of-the-art in this field.

The agreement covers the entire GEO satellite system – from design and manufacturing to ground segment integration and testing – with low integration risk; the satellite is expected to be delivered in 2030. The HUGEO mission aims to ensure that Hungary’s dual-use communications needs are met.

The parties have also expanded their strategic cooperation: in addition to space projects, their amended agreement now covers defense technologies – counter-drone systems (C-UAS), advanced weapon technologies and precision guidance systems – with joint development, manufacturing and system integration programs.

“Today, we have signed a historic agreement with Northrop Grumman to provide Hungary with a critical, dual-use satellite communications capability, which is a technology gap in today’s geopolitical situation. Furthermore, our agreements with L3Harris and Apex Technology, as well as our previous collaborations and investments with Lockheed Martin and Axiom Space, demonstrate 4iG SDT’s ability to collaborate with multiple global technology partners and integrate Hungarian industrial and engineering competencies to create new, exportable, NATO-compatible capabilities and industrial capacities in Hungary and the region. We are convinced that transatlantic collaborations will be a key driver of space and defense innovations in the next decade, with 4iG SDT playing a pioneering role among Hungarian and regional companies,” said Dr. István Sárhegyi, President and CEO of 4iG SDT .

4iG SDT and Apex Technology, Inc. have agreed on the terms of a joint venture to manufacture small satellites. The aim of the collaboration is to develop a manufacturing model optimized for satellite constellations, applying a standardized and scalable mass production approach proven in the automotive industry to satellite manufacturing. The collaboration will result in a satellite manufacturing capacity that is unique in Europe and capable of serving the rapidly expanding constellation needs of the global satellite market.