7 April 2026:
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 Márton Nagy, Minister for National Economy of Hungary, 4iG Space and Defence Technologies (4iG S&D) and Northrop Grumman signed multimillion dollar agreement, reinforcing 4iG S&D’s position within transatlantic space and defence industry value chains.
The HUSAT programme, the flagship satellite programme of 4iG S&D, is designed to ensure Hungary’s technological sovereignty in communications and Earth observation. Within the programme, a geostationary communications satellite (HUGEO) and eight low Earth orbit (LEO) Earth observation satellites (HULEO) are planned to be deployed in 2030. The geostationary satellite will be manufactured by Northrop Grumman, while the eight Earth observation satellites will be produced by 4iG S&D, leveraging its own development and manufacturing capabilities at its technology centre located in Hungary, scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2026. The supplier structure has already been established: the ground antenna system will be provided by Vertex (Germany), imaging systems by TelePIX (South Korea), and SAR radar technology by MetaSensing (Italy).
As the manufacturer of the geostationary satellite component of the HUSAT programme, Northrop Grumman will deliver a solution built on the GEOStar-3 platform, proven in national security and dual-use environments and representing state-of-the-art technology.
The agreement covers the entire geosynchronous satellite programme including design, manufacture, assembly, integration, testing, and on-ground delivery of the HUGEO satellite; transportation to a U.S. launch site, launch integration and early operations support services, and in-orbit testing. The satellite is scheduled for delivery in 2030. The HUGEO mission is designed to provide Hungary with critical dual-use communications capabilities.
The companies also expanded their strategic cooperation, extending the scope of their MoU beyond space projects to include defence technologies such as counter-UAS systems, advanced weapons and precision guidance systems, through joint development, manufacturing and system integration programmes.
„Today, we signed a landmark agreement with Northrop Grumman to secure Hungary’s access to critical dual-use satellite communications capabilities, a key enabling technology in today’s geopolitical environment. Our agreements with L3Harris Technologies and Apex Technology, together with our existing partnerships and investments with Lockheed Martin and Axiom Space, demonstrate our ability to collaborate with leading global technology partners while integrating Hungarian industrial and engineering capabilities to deliver new, export-ready and NATO-compatible solutions in Hungary and across the region. We believe transatlantic cooperation will be a key driver of space and defence innovation in the coming decade, in which 4iG S&D aims to play a pioneering role among other Hungarian and regional companies” – said István Sárhegyi, Chairman and CEO of 4iG S&D.
4iG S&D and Apex Technology agreed on the framework conditions for establishing a joint venture focused on scalable production of small satellites. The collaboration aims to develop a manufacturing model tailored for satellite constellations by adapting standardised and scalable mass production approaches proven in the automotive industry. The initiative is expected to create a unique, scalable satellite manufacturing capacity in Europe, capable of meeting the rapidly growing global demand for satellite constellations.
Under the preliminary agreement with L3Harris Technologies, 4iG S&D plans to integrate Lockheed Martin HIMARS rocket system onto Tatra 6×6 military trucks manufactured by RÁBA, as part of the HUMARS programme, incorporating L3Harris technologies. The programme can be implemented under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) framework, for which the Hungarian Defence Forces have already submitted a Letter of Request (LoR).
The agreement also positions L3Harris Technologies as a strategic technology partner in regional defence digitalisation projects, leveraging its battlefield-proven tactical communications and networking systems. Through specialised networks supporting the modernisation encrypted communications, simulation and training systems for armed forces, 4iG S&D plans to integrate advanced defence solutions based on L3Harris NATO-compatible technologies. L3Harris delivers similar solutions to the German armed forces as part of ongoing digitalisation programmes.
US partnerships – ranging from its investment in Axiom Space to its collaborations with Lockheed Martin, L3Harris Technologies, Northrop Grumman and Apex Technology – underscore a clear strategic direction: strengthening 4iG S&D’s position in transatlantic space and defence industry cooperation while expanding Hungary’s sovereign defence and space technology capabilities.
