Redwire Corporation has been selected by Belgian Defence as prime contractor to build and deliver the nation’s first national security satellite. The mission, named MATTEO, is fully funded by the Belgian Federal Government and aims to provide secure, independent space-based services to support national defence priorities.
MATTEO will be developed jointly by Redwire and Aerospacelab, combining Redwire’s mission assurance heritage with Aerospacelab’s satellite manufacturing expertise. The satellite will be built in-country, aligning with Belgium’s National Defence Industrial Technology Base strategy.
“MATTEO represents a significant advancement for Belgium’s technological sovereignty and national security,” said Marc Dielissen, Executive Vice-President of Redwire Europe. A Belgian Defence spokesperson emphasized the mission’s strategic timing: “In these times of global tensions and of a new European awareness, it is a strong and univocal signal. It is necessary to arm ourselves to face the increased challenges.”
Redwire’s Belgium facility brings over 50 years of heritage to the project, having designed, developed, or integrated spacecraft for all of ESA’s Proba missions. The company is also prime contractor for ESA’s Skimsat mission, a technology demonstrator supported by the Belgian government.
