Today, Wednesday, Iraq’s National Security Adviser reviewed a project to develop an Iraqi satellite intended for research and security purposes, a step officials say is aimed at expanding the country's capacities in space-based observation and communications.
The review, described by government sources as an examination of the proposed satellite project, represents a formal engagement by Iraq’s national security apparatus with a program that would combine scientific research objectives with security-related applications. Satellite projects of this type typically encompass tasks such as environmental and resource monitoring, disaster response support, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities, and the adviser’s involvement signals the program’s relevance to both civilian and security policy priorities.
Iraq has not widely deployed indigenous space systems in recent decades, and establishing a national satellite capability would require work across multiple technical and administrative fronts. Designing and building a satellite involves specifying mission objectives, selecting and integrating payloads, arranging for a launch vehicle and launch services, and establishing ground stations and data-processing infrastructure. The program would also require financing, development of or access to technical expertise, and coordination among ministries, research institutions and security agencies.
Beyond the technical and financial tasks, a project to place and operate a satellite carries regulatory and diplomatic dimensions. States engaged in space activities generally coordinate with international bodies and observe treaties and norms governing the peaceful use of outer space, such as obligations under the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. Any satellite launch typically involves agreements with launch providers and host countries, and operations may be subject to registration and transparency measures that help address national and international concerns about dual-use capabilities.
Proponents of national satellite programs often cite benefits that include improved natural resource management, agricultural monitoring, urban planning support, and faster response to natural disasters, alongside enhanced capabilities for border monitoring and maritime domain awareness. Integrating such capabilities into national planning requires not only hardware but also investments in ground systems, data analysis, and personnel training to convert satellite data into actionable information for research and security purposes.
The adviser’s examination of the project may be an early-stage step in a process that could lead to feasibility studies, budgetary decisions and partnerships with domestic institutions or foreign firms and space agencies. Governments typically follow initial reviews with detailed technical assessments, procurement processes, and regulatory clearances, after which development, testing and launch contracts are negotiated. The extent and timing of those next steps have not been publicly specified in connection with this review.
Observers note that building an indigenous satellite capability is a multi-year endeavor that can involve collaboration with international manufacturers, launch-service providers and academic or industrial partners to fill technical gaps. For Iraq, any pursuit of space-based assets will likely be weighed against competing national priorities and security considerations, and will require sustained administrative oversight to transition from concept to operational service.
The latest development is the national security adviser’s review of the proposed satellite project; officials have not announced a timeline, a funding commitment or specific technical partners. How the government proceeds—whether by commissioning feasibility studies, allocating budgetary resources, seeking international partners, or pursuing alternative arrangements—will determine the pace and scope of any future satellite program.