Thales Alenia Space has entered a strategic agreement with Spanish engineering and technology group Sener to jointly implement a business plan that will help develop optical payloads for space missions.

As part the deal, both firms will jointly invest to pre-develop critical technologies and acquire major capabilities.

Aiming to lead the Spanish space industry in the development of optical payloads, the deal also features previous and current technological complementarity of both Thales and Sener in various scientific and Earth observation programmes.

“This agreement represents complementing the capabilities of two leading companies in the space fight segment."

In March, both companies signed a pre-agreement that paved way for the newly signed deal.

The latest deal will also help in developing new lines for both companies, with various commercial opportunities identified in the upcoming years both in Spanish and international market.

Sener space and defence director Diego Rodríguez said: “This agreement represents complementing the capabilities of two leading companies in the space fight segment, as well as giving continuity to the effective expertise from our joint work in the Spanish Earth observation satellite SeoSat / Ingenio.”

The current space optical observation market is estimated to witness an upward growth and expected to make room for the new economy.

Last month, Thales opened a new facility to manufacture electric propulsion systems for satellites in Belfast, UK.

Representing a significant investment made by the company in the UK space industry, the new Space Propulsion Integration Centre will manufacture about four satellite electric propulsion systems a year.