No African country operates a large, dedicated constellation of military satellites, but five states own satellites with clear defence or security uses. Morocco has two high-resolution Mohammed VI observation satellites, launched in 2017 and 2018, and has ordered an Israeli Ofeq-13 radar satellite. Egypt flies Earth-observation satellites including EgyptSat-A and Horus-1 and Horus-2. Algeria operates the Alsat observation satellites and the Alcomsat-1 communications satellite, which has military-band capacity. South Africa’s Russian-built Kondor-E radar satellite, launched in 2014, is reported to have failed in 2015. Nigeria’s satellites are civilian and dual-use rather than military.
Image: DefenceMENA graphic.
What makes a satellite “military”?
A military satellite is owned or tasked by armed forces or intelligence services for reconnaissance, secure communications, navigation, early warning or signals collection. In practice, most African satellites are dual-use. They are owned by a space agency for mapping, agriculture or disaster response, but their imagery or bandwidth is also available to the security services. This article separates three categories. Reconnaissance satellites carry high-resolution optical cameras or synthetic aperture radar (SAR), which images through cloud and at night. Communications satellites provide secure or government links. Civil satellites may support defence indirectly.
Quick answer, verified 3 November 2026
- Military or security reconnaissance satellites: Morocco (Mohammed VI-A and VI-B); Egypt (EgyptSat-A, Horus series, dual-use)
- Government or military communications: Algeria (Alcomsat-1)
- On order: Morocco (Ofeq-13 radar satellites from Israel, delivery planned 2029)
- Failed or lost: South Africa (Kondor-E, 2014–2015); Egypt (EgyptSat-1 and EgyptSat-2, both lost)
- Civil or dual-use only: Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Ghana and others
| Country | Satellite | Type | Supplier | Launched | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco | Mohammed VI-A | High-resolution optical | Thales Alenia Space / Airbus | 8 Nov 2017 | In orbit |
| Morocco | Mohammed VI-B | High-resolution optical | Thales Alenia Space / Airbus | 2018 | In orbit |
| Morocco | Ofeq-13 version | Radar reconnaissance | Israel (IAI) | – | Ordered 2023, delivery planned 2029 (SIPRI) |
| Egypt | EgyptSat-A | Earth observation | Russia (RSC Energia) | 21 Feb 2019 | In orbit |
| Egypt | Horus-1, Horus-2 | Remote sensing | Launched from China | 2023 | Reported operational |
| Algeria | Alcomsat-1 | Geostationary communications | China | 11 Dec 2017 | In orbit |
| Algeria | Alsat-2A, Alsat-2B | High-resolution optical | Airbus / ASAL | 2010, 2016 | Dual-use |
| South Africa | Kondor-E | Synthetic aperture radar | Russia (NPO Mashinostroyeniya) | 19 Dec 2014 | Reported failed 2015 |
Morocco: Africa’s most capable reconnaissance satellites
Morocco’s Mohammed VI-A was launched on a Vega rocket from Kourou on 8 November 2017, according to ESA and Spaceflight Now. Built by Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space, it was reported to offer resolution of about 70 cm. France 24 said the launch had been kept low-key and drew attention from neighbouring states. Its twin, Mohammed VI-B, followed in 2018. SIPRI records the pair as surveillance satellites in a EUR500–585 million deal that also covers civil government use. In 2023, Morocco ordered Israeli Ofeq-series reconnaissance satellites in a deal SIPRI values at about $1 billion, with delivery planned for 2029. Until then this is an order, not a capability. See Morocco military strength.
Egypt: rebuilding after early losses
Egypt’s first two observation satellites were lost. EgyptSat-1 failed in 2010, and the Russian-built EgyptSat-2, launched in 2014, stopped working in 2015. SIPRI lists EgyptSat-2 as a surveillance satellite that also serves civil users. A replacement, EgyptSat-A, launched from Baikonur on 21 February 2019, and Russianspaceweb reports it entered its working orbit. The Egyptian Space Agency, created in 2019, has since added the Horus-1 and Horus-2 remote-sensing satellites, launched from China in 2023 according to Ahram Online. Egypt has not published which agencies task these satellites, so DefenceMENA classes them as dual-use.
Algeria: communications plus observation
Algeria’s Alcomsat-1 was launched from China on 11 December 2017 and is operated by the Algerian Space Agency (ASAL). ASAL describes services that include strategic state communications, and reference sources such as Gunter’s Space Page list military-capable X-band and UHF transponders alongside civil Ku- and Ka-band payloads. Algeria also operates the Alsat-2A and Alsat-2B high-resolution imaging satellites, launched in 2010 and 2016, which serve mapping and monitoring. Wider context: Algeria military strength.
South Africa: the Kondor-E episode
South Africa’s only dedicated military satellite was Kondor-E, a Russian synthetic aperture radar satellite bought under the classified Project Flute. SIPRI gives the value as ZAR1.2 billion (about $186 million). It launched from Baikonur on 19 December 2014. Russianspaceweb reported that it suffered onboard problems from April 2015. The WMO OSCAR database lists the satellite as inactive. defenceWeb has questioned whether South Africa still has a working radar satellite, and the government has never publicly confirmed the programme’s status.
Nigeria and the rest of Africa
Nigeria has the largest civil space programme in West Africa. It includes NigeriaSat Earth-observation satellites and NigComSat communications satellites (NigComSat-2A with Thales Alenia Space). These are run by civil agencies, and none is documented as a dedicated military satellite. Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Ghana and others have launched small Earth-observation or research satellites, many of them microsatellites or CubeSats weighing tens of kilograms rather than tonnes. These are useful for mapping but are not military reconnaissance systems.
Why satellites matter for African militaries
Satellite imagery lets a state watch long land borders, desert supply routes and maritime exclusive economic zones without flying aircraft. Morocco’s and Algeria’s investments reflect their rivalry over Western Sahara and the wider Maghreb. Egypt’s reflect concerns about the Nile, Libya and the Red Sea. Most African armed forces still rely on commercial imagery and foreign partners, and they depend on the US GPS system or other foreign constellations for navigation.
Frequently asked questions
Which African country has military satellites?
Morocco has the clearest reconnaissance capability with Mohammed VI-A and VI-B. Egypt and Algeria operate dual-use observation satellites, and Algeria’s Alcomsat-1 includes military communications capacity.
Does Nigeria have a military satellite?
No dedicated military satellite is documented. Nigeria’s NigeriaSat and NigComSat satellites are civilian and dual-use.
Does South Africa have a spy satellite?
South Africa launched the Kondor-E radar satellite in 2014, but it was reported to have failed in 2015, and no replacement has been announced.
Does any African country have its own satellite launcher?
No African country currently has an operational orbital launch vehicle. South Africa’s RSA-3 and RSA-4 launcher programme was cancelled in 1993–1994.
Sources
- SIPRI Arms Transfers Database – surveillance satellite entries for Egypt, Morocco and South Africa (accessed 3 November 2026)
- ESA – Vega launches Earth observation satellite for Morocco
- Spaceflight Now, 8 November 2017 – Morocco’s first high-resolution surveillance satellite
- France 24, 20 November 2017 – Morocco’s secret satellite launch
- RussianSpaceWeb – EgyptSat-A
- Ahram Online – Egypt launches Horus 2 satellite
- Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) – Alcomsat-1
- Gunter’s Space Page – Alcomsat-1
- RussianSpaceWeb – Kondor-E
- WMO OSCAR – Kondor-E
- defenceWeb – Does South Africa have a working SAR satellite?
Method: launch facts come from space agencies and launch trackers. Military classification follows SIPRI’s surveillance-satellite entries and official agency descriptions. Satellites are labelled dual-use where the military role is not officially stated.
Last verified: 3 November 2026