Tesat-Spacecom
Overview
Manufactures satellite communications hardware — laser inter-satellite link terminals and RF amplifiers — as a merchant supplier to satellite primes and constellation operators, with a security-restricted US affiliate (TESAT Government) pursuing the American government market separately.
Moat: The incumbent in space laser communications, with over 500,000 operational hours of laser comms on orbit and a Backnang serial production line (opened 2024) capable of up to 100 terminals per month — manufacturing scale no other European laser-communications supplier matches.
Business
Primary customers
- Government: ESA (EDRS SpaceDataHighway)
- Commercial: MDA Space, Lockheed Martin, Kepler (optical terminal customers)
Sectors
satcom-equipment · laser-inter-satellite-links · defense-communications
Key Products
- LCT135 / GEO relay terminalsoperational
Laser communication terminals for ESA's EDRS 'SpaceDataHighway' relay system.
- CubeLCToperational
Smallsat-class laser communication terminal.
- SCOT20operational
Scalable Optical Terminal; first flight model delivered to Planetek Hellas 2025-10-06 for Greece's national satellite programme.
First flight: 2025-10
- SCOT80development
80mm-aperture terminal, up to 100 Gbps, SDA Optical Communications Terminal Standard 3.1 compliant; selected by Lockheed Martin December 2024 for a GPS III on-orbit demonstration.
- TWTA/EPC RF product lineoperational
Traveling-wave-tube amplifiers and electronic power conditioners; passed 1 billion operating hours in space, September 2024.
Near-term Catalysts
- 2026-Q1
Frontgrade Technologies partnership qualification testing completion
Would unlock the US security-restricted 'assured OCT' market, the largest single addressable pool for laser terminals.
- ongoing
MDA Space Aurora deliveries — 792 optical terminals contracted
The largest disclosed single order and the key test of Tesat's volume-manufacturing capability.
- awaiting launch call-up
GPS III SCOT80 on-orbit demonstration
Success would anchor Tesat's US government optical-communications business.
Top Risks
- Intensifying competition in laser communications from both European and US suppliers as constellation optical links commoditize.
- ITAR and US market-access barriers — the TESAT Government/Frontgrade structure exists specifically to work around them and is not yet qualified.
- Revenue concentration in a handful of mega-constellation and government programmes, each individually cancellable, plus exposure to Airbus portfolio restructuring decisions.
Recent Milestones
- 2025-12-11
TESAT Government partners with Frontgrade Technologies; qualification testing due Q1 2026
- 2025-10-27
SCOT80 terminals delivered for the Lockheed Martin GPS III demonstration
- 2025-10-06
First SCOT20 flight model delivered to Planetek Hellas
- 2024-12-05
SCOT80 selected by Lockheed Martin for a GPS III demonstration
- 2024-08-21
Backnang serial production line opened, capable of up to 100 units/month
- 2024-05-28
Selected by MDA Space for 792 optical inter-satellite-link terminals
What investors should know
Q1What is Tesat-Spacecom's relationship to Airbus?⌄
Q2What is Tesat's flagship product?⌄
Q3What is the MDA Space Aurora deal?⌄
Q4How is Tesat pursuing the US government market?⌄
Q5Who leads Tesat-Spacecom?⌄
Peers
Compare side-by-side →Sources & References
Press Release
- Tesat-Spacecom · 2026-07-25
- Tesat-Spacecom — Company/Management · 2026-07-27