IHI Corporation and Kuva Space partner to advance hyperspectral intelligence across Japan and East Asia

The two companies have signed an MoU to outline a path from a single hyperspectral demonstrator to broader constellation coverage and next-generation capabilities.

ESPOO, Finland (July 21st, 2026) — IHI Corporation (“IHI”), one of Japan’s leading aerospace manufacturers, and Kuva Space, a Finnish space-technology company developing hyperspectral Earth-observation satellites and AI-powered intelligence solutions, today announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand their cooperation on hyperspectral satellite data and services.

Under the agreement, the companies will evaluate Kuva Space’s constellation capacity, define requirements for a Japanese sovereign hyperspectral constellation, and explore business structures to build and operate that capability in Japan, including potential domestic satellite manufacturing.

The agreement comes amid a wider shift from individual satellite missions toward persistent, multi-sensor intelligence built with commercial providers. For IHI, the MoU will assess how hyperspectral sensing could be integrated at constellation scale into the sovereign Earth-observation system it is building for Japan, alongside optical, radar, infrared, radio-frequency and VDES (next generation of AIS) capabilities. By measuring the distinct spectral signatures of materials, hyperspectral satellites can reveal information and anomalies that conventional imagery may miss across land and sea.

The MoU builds on a demonstration phase running since November 2025, during which IHI has evaluated data and analytics from Kuva Space’s first-generation Hyperfield-1 satellites across defense and intelligence, agriculture, aquaculture and environmental monitoring. It also builds on IHI’s own hyperspectral work through its IHI-SAT2 demonstrator. Applications assessed include vessel detection, identification of vessels not broadcasting AIS signals, anomaly detection, and land-cover and land-use change mapping.

“Japan is building the foundation for a new generation of sovereign Earth observation,” said Jarkko Antila, CEO of Kuva Space. “By combining IHI’s multi-sensor strategy with Kuva Space’s constellation model, this MoU defines a route from demonstration to persistent hyperspectral intelligence.”

Kuva Space estimates a daily coverage requirement of approximately 20 million km² across Japan, neighboring countries and surrounding ocean areas, which the companies say could be met with the capacity of around 20 Hyperfield-2 satellites. At approximately 100 satellites, the wider constellation could provide subdaily monitoring capabilities across East Asia. Kuva Space plans to grow its constellation to approximately 100 satellites by the end of 2030.

Kuva Space’s second-generation Hyperfield-2 satellites, with first launches planned for 2027, are extending the spectral range into short-wave infrared and serve as the target platform for any future capacity procurement by IHI. Upcoming capabilities include vessel-spectra extraction for identification and tracking, camouflage and decoy detection, and material identification among many others.

Under Kuva Space’s satellite capacity-sharing model, IHI would receive coverage in proportion to the number of satellites it procures while benefiting from the revisit performance of the wider constellation. The companies expect the joint evaluation to continue through 2026, with any procurement decisions aligned with Hyperfield-2 production timelines from 2027.

“A secure and resilient space capability is increasingly important for Japan’s national security. Hyperspectral satellite data can provide insights that conventional imagery cannot, supporting both security and wider dual-use applications,” said Atsushi Sato, Representative Director and Senior Executive Officer, and President of Aero-Engine, Space & Defense Business Area, at IHI Corporation. “This MoU with Kuva Space is an important step in strengthening Japan’s access to hyperspectral intelligence through cooperation with a trusted partner.”

For additional information:

• Tuomas Tikka, Co-founder
  tuomas.tikka@kuvaspace.com

Media kits:

• Kuva Space: linked here; also https://kuvaspace.com/media/
• IHI Corporation : https://www.ihi.co.jp/en/

About Kuva Space

Founded in 2016 in Espoo, Finland, Kuva Space is building the world's first extensive microsatellite constellation with patented hyperspectral camera technology to collect gapless data aimed at solving the world's most pressing issues, such as climate change, food security, and resilience. Combined with its AI-driven analytics platform, Kuva Space delivers reliable and timely global insights and foresights that transform rich spaceborne data into actionable insights users can use for efficient resource management, optimizing operations, and improving profitability sustainably. For more information, visit www.kuvaspace.com.

About IHI Corporation

IHI Corporation traces its origins to Japan’s first modern shipbuilding facility, established in 1853, and has since grown into one of the country’s leading manufacturers. The company has continuously expanded its business and now provides a wide range of solutions across four key sectors: Resource, Energy and Environment; Social Infrastructure; Industrial Systems and General-purpose Machinery; and Aero Engine, Space and Defense. In the field of satellites, IHI AEROSPACE CO., LTD. provides propulsion systems and components for space companies. IHI has also recently expanded into satellite-based services, leveraging satellite data and information to help address customers' operational challenges.