By Sarah Cope | 2025-11-04

Swiss aerospace manufacturer SWISSto12 has opened a new facility in Madrid, expanding its European operations and accelerating development and production of phased array antennas for satellite payloads and ground terminal systems.

The Spanish facility bolsters SWISSto12’s global footprint and contributes to European space collaboration, company officials said.

The company's partners, suppliers and customers in Spain play an important role in its growth journey, SWISSto12 founder and CEO Emile de Rijk said in a September 23 announcement.

"Thanks to its world-leading technical universities and space industry ecosystem, Spain is recognized as a global hub for talent that is extremely relevant to SWISSto12," he said.

"We have built a team here in Madrid that is already contributing to some of our most advanced phased array technologies," said David Alvarez, SWISSto12's active antenna architect for its Spain operations.

"Our Spanish facility is focused on both space and ground-based systems, and we benefit from close collaboration with our SWISSto12 colleagues worldwide."

Founded in 2011 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), SWISSto12 carved its initial niche developing precision radio frequency components through advanced 3D printing.

The company has since grown into a key supplier of antennas and satellite subsystems for commercial and government customers.

Its technology portfolio includes lightweight radio frequency components, compact satellite payloads, and the HummingSat line of small geostationary satellites developed in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA).

SWISSto12 has worked with major aerospace and telecommunications firms, including Thales Alenia Space, Inmarsat, Viasat, Intelsat and Lockheed Martin.

It holds more than 30 patents in radio frequency and satellite subsystem technology.

This year, the company acquired key antenna assets and intellectual property from Hanwha Phasor, broadening its capacity to design active electronically steered antennas for satellite communications.

Spain's space program

Spain’s growing space sector provides a favorable environment for SWISSto12’s new operations.

The Spanish Space Agency, established in 2023 and headquartered in Seville, oversees national space policy and promotes domestic industry participation in European and international programs.

Spain’s space program oversees several large products, including the SpainSat NG secure communications satellites and the upcoming PAZ-2 radar observation satellites.

SpainSat NG I, launched in early 2025, provides secure communications for defense and government users, while PAZ-2 aims to improve radar imaging for environmental monitoring, disaster response, and security.

These programs reflect Spain’s ongoing efforts to hone domestic technological capabilities in communications and imaging.

By expanding to Madrid, SWISSto12 gains proximity to Spain’s extant programs and access to a growing base of Spanish engineers and suppliers.

The company’s work on antennas and satellite systems complements national efforts to advance space communications, remote sensing, and industrial capacity.

The Madrid facility supports SWISSto12’s broader strategy to deliver satellite systems to commercial and government customers.

Its establishment strengthens European industrial cooperation, connecting key players in Spain and Switzerland, and positions the company to contribute to Spain’s expanding role in the space sector.