Airbus to Launch Pléiades Neo Next Satellite with 20cm Resolution in 2028

This article is based on an official press release from Airbus Defence and Space.

Airbus Defence and Space has officially confirmed the timeline for its next generation of Earth observation capabilities. In an announcement made on January 27, 2026, the European aerospace giant revealed that the first satellite of the Pléiades Neo Next program is scheduled for launch in early 2028. The new program represents a significant technological evolution, introducing native resolution in the 20-centimeter class, a marked improvement over the current 30-centimeter industry standard.

According to the company, the satellite will be launched aboard an Avio-manufactured Vega C rocket from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. This initiative is designed to secure service continuity for Airbus’s government and commercial clients through at least 2040, while simultaneously responding to intensifying competition in the high-resolution satellite imagery market.

Pushing the Boundaries of Resolution

The core advancement of the Pléiades Neo Next program is the shift to 20 cm native resolution. While the existing Pléiades Neo constellation,which began launching in 2021,offers 30 cm resolution, the new “Next” generation aims to provide significantly finer detail. This capability allows for the identification of smaller objects and more precise infrastructure monitoring, a critical requirement for defense intelligence and urban planning sectors.

Airbus states that the program is fully funded, manufactured, and operated by the company. In addition to the optical hardware upgrades, the system will integrate with the OneAtlas digital platform and upgraded Direct Receiving Stations (DRS). These ground segment enhancements are intended to reduce data latency to minutes, enabling near real-time tasking and delivery.

Eric Even, Head of Space Digital at Airbus Defence and Space, emphasized the continuity and ambition of the program in a statement included in the press release:

“The Pléiades Neo Next programme builds on the success of our existing Pléiades Neo constellation which serves government and commercial customers around the world. This programme will further enhance our standard of excellence in terms of quality, performance, and reliability to deliver images as well as geo-intelligence services and applications.”

Launch Logistics and Strategic Resilience

The selection of the Vega C launcher highlights a continued commitment to European space sovereignty. Despite the setback in December 2022, where a Vega C launch failure resulted in the loss of two Pléiades Neo satellites (Neo 5 and 6), Airbus has reaffirmed its confidence in the European launcher system. The upcoming launch in early 2028 will take place at the Guiana Space Centre, ensuring that the satellite, launcher, and operator remain strictly European.

The Pléiades Neo Next program serves a dual purpose: it advances technological capabilities and replenishes the constellation following the 2022 losses. By integrating these new assets with the existing fleet, Airbus aims to increase revisit rates, allowing users to image specific locations multiple times per day.

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The Race for 20 Centimeters

The move to 20 cm resolution is not merely an incremental upgrade; it is a strategic necessity in what industry observers call the “resolution war.” Airbus is positioning Pléiades Neo Next directly against competitors like Maxar Technologies, whose WorldView Legion constellation also targets the ultra-high-resolution market. For defense and intelligence clients, the difference between 30 cm and 20 cm can be the deciding factor in contract awards, as the higher resolution allows for the distinction of vehicle types and equipment details that coarser imagery might obscure.

Furthermore, by sticking with the Vega C rocket despite previous failures, Airbus is signaling a strong political and industrial commitment to EU autonomy in space access. While this carries inherent risk, it ensures that the Pléiades Neo Next program remains a sovereign European asset, free from reliance on non-European launch providers,a key selling point for EU defense ministries seeking independence from US or Chinese data chains.

Sources

• Airbus Defence and Space