Rendering of the AISSat-4 satellite. Photo: SFL Missions

SFL Missions Inc. will develop a microsatellite for the Norwegian Space Agency for maritime ship tracking under a contract announced July 29. The AISSat-4 satellite, targeted for lunch in less than a year, will add capacity to Norway’s maritime situational awareness network.

SFL said AISSat-4 is being developed on its Spartan 6U nanosatellite platform and will carry a single payload, a miniaturized Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver built by Kongsberg Seatex. 

The satellite is designed to capture 1.5 million unique AIS signals every day, and will serve Norway’s Blue Justice Ocean Surveillance Program to fight fisheries crimes.

SFL has developed eight spacecraft with Norway for maritime monitoring, going back to the AISSat-1 which launched in 2010 and operated for 12 years. The most recent was NorSat-4, which launched in January 2025 with an AIS receiver and a first-of-its-kind low-light imaging camera to detect and identify “dark” ships. 

“The societal benefits we gain from collecting AIS information from satellites is significant. It is therefore important that we ensure the maintenance of this capability,” said Norwegian Coastal Administration Director Einar Vik Arset. “AISSat-4 will be a valuable addition at a time when several of our operational satellites are nearing the end of their expected lifespan.”