UAE Launches Advanced Radar Satellites to Enhance Disaster Response and Environmental Monitoring

The UAE has launched three new radar satellites capable of capturing high-resolution images through clouds and darkness, marking a major step in its goal to build a full constellation of Earth-monitoring satellites by 2027. The Foresight-3, Foresight-4, and Foresight-5 satellites, developed by Abu Dhabi-based Space42, lifted off aboard a SpaceX rocket from Florida’s Cape Canaveral on Sunday. With this launch, Space42 now operates five satellites in orbit as part of its mission to improve disaster response, environmental tracking, and urban planning.
These advanced synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites can produce 25cm-resolution images, allowing precise detection of ground changes such as flooding, soil movement, or infrastructure damage. Their data is processed by Space42’s AI-powered analytics platform, GIQ, which delivers near real-time insights to support faster decision-making for governments and industries. The radar technology, effective regardless of weather or lighting conditions, was successfully used during the UAE’s record floods in 2024 and in Turkey’s earthquake response efforts.
The UAE plans to complete its full constellation with two additional Foresight satellites by 2027, positioning itself as a global leader in satellite-based environmental and disaster intelligence.