The Ministry of National Defense informed about the contract signed with France, which concerns the delivery of two observation satellites together with a receiving station in Poland. “Satellites will increase the capabilities of the Polish Army in the field of acquiring reconnaissance data,” the Ministry of Defense wrote in a statement published on social media.
Poland buys military satellites. Expert: They are among the most modern systems
What are the technical capabilities of the equipment? To what extent will it increase the country’s defense capabilities? In an interview with Gazeta.pl, he explained this Col. Prof. dr hab. Eng. Michał Kędzierski, Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodesy of the Military University of Technology.
– Poland has purchased the Pleiades Neo satellites, which are one of the most modern optoelectronic Earth observation systems.
he said.
He also discussed in detail the technical parameters of the devices. – Spatial Resolution (GSD) of 30 cm is really a lot. It is also worth paying attention to the very good radiometric resolution of 12 bits (this significantly improves the interpretation possibilities – e.g. details in shaded areas are very well visible). The spectral resolution of these satellites is also at a high technological level, in addition to the classic R, G, B, Nir and Pan channels, there will be channels called Deep Blue and Red Edge, i.e. the limit ranges of visible light – he specified.
Scientist on satellite capabilities: They allow for accurate hardware identification
The practical possibilities of satellites are considerable.
– Such good resolution parameters (both spatial and radiometric) enable not only the detection of military equipment (tank, howitzer or combat vehicle) in the images, but also allow for precise identification of the type of tank or howitzer
– explains Col. Prof. dr hab. Eng. Michal Kędzierski. – In this type of images, it is possible to identify specific armament that is suspended under the aircraft (of course, if it is previously attached to the aircraft on the airport tarmac) – he added.
– You can identify a single soldier, and in some circumstances even tell if he has a grenade launcher, mortar
– explained the interlocutor of Gazeta.pl.
Expert on new equipment for the military: Unfortunately, we have not had such opportunities so far
The Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodesy of the Military University of Technology emphasizes that the purchased equipment is quite a novelty. – Obtaining images in these ranges is a very large dose of information for image recognition. So far, unfortunately, we have not had such opportunities, we have been forced to constantly use allied and commercial data – he said.
He also explained why it is worth having your own device of this type. – After all, we will be independent and no one will filter our data and know what areas we are interested in. In addition, it should be noted that such a system will supply our national economy with the necessary image data, on the basis of which an orthophotomap with a pixel of 30 cm can be made, or a digital terrain model can be obtained – he said.
Military satellites also for civilian purposes? It’s about modeling the terrain
The lecturer of the Military University of Technology also explained what other possible applications of satellites are. – It is worth adding that Pleiades Neo also has the ability to obtain data in the so-called Tri-stereo, which gives the opportunity to develop an even more accurate digital terrain model. Such data can also be used by ARMA to control direct payments or for flood analysis – he stated.
– It is a pity that only now we can become the owners of a satellite system, and it should be noted that two Pleiades significantly improve our time resolution and the ability to acquire images – he added.
As he explained, at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodesy of the Military University of Technology in the Department of Image Reconnaissance, future officers are already being prepared to operate this system. – Anyway, we have been dealing with satellite reconnaissance for over 15 years and we are glad that we will finally have a national satellite system for imaging the Earth’s surface – he said.
Source: Gazeta
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