Targeting expanding requirements for high-power intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) payloads, Kongsberg NanoAvionics introduced its Gen-2 MP42 family of ITAR-free microsatellite buses on August 24, 2026.
The updated product line debuts the flagship 500 kg-class MP42D, the manufacturer’s largest satellite bus designed to accommodate complex optical, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), and signals intelligence (SIGINT) payloads.
Platform Architecture and Technical Specifications
The Gen-2 family consists of the flagship MP42D, alongside upgraded configurations of the baseline MP42 and MP42H buses. Built on an ESPA-Grande form factor, the MP42D supports spacecraft masses up to 500 kilograms while housing up to 250 kilograms of payload mass. To support power-intensive phased-array SAR antennas and high-throughput communication links, the MP42D integrates in-house developed kilowatt-class solar arrays, multi-kilowatt battery systems, and optical inter-satellite links (OISLs) providing downlink throughputs up to 2.5 Gbps.
The standardized Gen-2 MP42 platform increases payload volume and mass capacity by more than 50 percent compared to its predecessor, accommodating up to 100 kilograms of payload mass on the standard chassis. Across the Gen-2 line, design modifications deliver higher satellite agility, enhanced GNSS anti-jamming and anti-spoofing resilience, radiation hardening, a three-fold increase in downlink data rates, and extended operational lifespans of up to seven years in a 750 km Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
Operational Leadership
“Our Gen-2 microsatellite buses respond to increasingly advanced and demanding mission parameters,” said Atle Wøllo, CEO of Kongsberg NanoAvionics. “They were specifically developed to meet the growing demands of commercial and national security customers alike. Our flagship MP42D already represents a major part of our proposal pipeline in terms of total deal size and order volume. These new defence-focused satellite platforms together with the space value chain of KONGSBERG group make the group one of the most complete European partners for space intelligence.”
Customer Deliveries and Launch Schedule
The initial five Gen-2 MP42 satellite platforms representing over €10 million in contracted value have already been built or delivered to commercial customers. These early adopters include Satlantis, an undisclosed Southeast Asian operator, and SuperSharp for its BlueMoon thermal infrared space telescope mission.
Additional orders have been placed by Kreios Space, allied NATO defense clients, and KONGSBERG, which contracted three platforms for its N3X maritime surveillance constellation. Initial orbital deployments for the Gen-2 spacecraft fleet are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026 and continue through 2027.