We found 52 defence companies in Italy most engineers have never heard of
Apr 22
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Sarcedo, ItalyArlington, United StatesSarcedo, ItalyArlington, United States
O
Officina Stellare
Designs and manufactures space-qualified optical payloads, laser communication ground stations and optical telescopes for Earth observation, space surveillance and defence applications.
Founded 200951-200 employeesSarcedo, Italy0 open positionsWebsiteLinkedIn
Space & SatellitesSensors & EWCommunications
Products & Solutions
Earth Observation Optical Payloads
Space-qualified telescopes and electro-optical payloads for LEO Earth observation constellations. Systems cover multispectral, hyperspectral and very-high-resolution imaging, ranging from compact CubeSat payloads to full-size instruments with sub-metre ground sampling distance. Officina Stellare has supplied optical payloads for Satellogic's constellation since 2016 and holds contracts under the Italian IRIDE and PLATiNO programmes.
Optical Ground Stations (OGT Series)
Turnkey ground-based telescope systems for laser communications, space object tracking and laser ranging. The OGT series includes the OGT-700 and OGT-800 models, supporting LEO/MEO/GEO satellite tracking, quantum key distribution and scientific observations. Apertures reach up to 1.5 metres, with dual Nasmyth foci, enhanced metallic coating for C-band performance and designs rated for high-humidity outdoor deployment.
LaserCom Ground Systems
Optical ground station systems enabling high-throughput laser-based communications with satellites, combining telescope, adaptive optics, tracking and QKD terminal into integrated solutions. Products feed into programmes such as HyDRON (ESA/Thales Alenia Space, targeting 100 Gbps multi-orbit optical networking), EAGLE-1 (European QKD mission), SAGA and C3PO for ESOC.
Space Situational Awareness Systems
Optical systems for tracking orbital objects, monitoring space weather and supporting space sustainability through distributed sensor networks. Systems are designed for high-duty-cycle satellite and debris tracking and feed into global SSA networks.
Defence Optical Tracking Systems
High-speed video-tracking optical systems built for defence test ranges and direct energy programmes. Systems combine very high optical quality with mechanical stiffness to survive dynamic stress, supporting ballistic target characterisation in both visible and infrared bands. The MITS (Multispectral Imaging and Tracking System) programme was delivered for Photosonic Inc. under a US Army contract.
Videos
Officina Stellare Corporate Video
About
Officina Stellare is an Italian opto-mechanical engineering company founded in 2009 by Riccardo Gianni, Giovanni Dal Lago and Gino Bucciol in Sarcedo, near Vicenza. The company designs, manufactures and delivers integrated optical systems for space, ground station and defence markets, covering everything from custom space telescopes and electro-optical payloads to laser communication terminals and adaptive optics benches.
Offices
Sarcedo, ItalyArlington, United StatesBacked by
Satellogic (strategic investor)Investindustrial (via Global Aerospace Technologies Group)
Customers & Partners
SatellogicLeonardo S.p.A.ArgotecPhotosonic Inc. (US Army)Italian Space Agency (ASI)European Space Agency (ESA)Thales Alenia Space ItaliaEGEOS SpAYLARA Laser Ranging Station (Yebes Observatory)DLR (German Aerospace Center)Universität der Bundeswehr MünchenDigos GmbH
Timeline
2025
Approved business combination with Global Aerospace Technologies Group, backed by Investindustrial, to form an Italian listed aerospace and defence technology group.
2022
Satellogic completed a €3.8 million strategic investment in Officina Stellare, deepening a supply relationship for Earth observation telescope payloads that began in 2016.
2020
Acquired Dynamic Optics and ThinkQuantum, and established OS Corporation in Arlington, Virginia to serve the US market.
2015
Listed on Borsa Italiana's AIM market (now Euronext Growth Milan), becoming one of the first Italian space SMEs to access public capital markets.
2012
First orbital telescope launched on a space mission.
2009
Founded in Sarcedo, Italy by Riccardo Gianni, Giovanni Dal Lago and Gino Bucciol, and secured an early contract with NASA on the SOFIA airborne observatory project.
Open Positions (0)
No positions available
Officina Stellare doesn't have any open positions at the moment.
O
Officina Stellare
Designs and manufactures space-qualified optical payloads, laser communication ground stations and optical telescopes for Earth observation, space surveillance and defence applications.
Founded 200951-200 employeesSarcedo, Italy0 open positionsWebsiteLinkedIn
Space & SatellitesSensors & EWCommunications
Products & Solutions
Earth Observation Optical Payloads
Space-qualified telescopes and electro-optical payloads for LEO Earth observation constellations. Systems cover multispectral, hyperspectral and very-high-resolution imaging, ranging from compact CubeSat payloads to full-size instruments with sub-metre ground sampling distance. Officina Stellare has supplied optical payloads for Satellogic's constellation since 2016 and holds contracts under the Italian IRIDE and PLATiNO programmes.
Optical Ground Stations (OGT Series)
Turnkey ground-based telescope systems for laser communications, space object tracking and laser ranging. The OGT series includes the OGT-700 and OGT-800 models, supporting LEO/MEO/GEO satellite tracking, quantum key distribution and scientific observations. Apertures reach up to 1.5 metres, with dual Nasmyth foci, enhanced metallic coating for C-band performance and designs rated for high-humidity outdoor deployment.
LaserCom Ground Systems
Optical ground station systems enabling high-throughput laser-based communications with satellites, combining telescope, adaptive optics, tracking and QKD terminal into integrated solutions. Products feed into programmes such as HyDRON (ESA/Thales Alenia Space, targeting 100 Gbps multi-orbit optical networking), EAGLE-1 (European QKD mission), SAGA and C3PO for ESOC.
Space Situational Awareness Systems
Optical systems for tracking orbital objects, monitoring space weather and supporting space sustainability through distributed sensor networks. Systems are designed for high-duty-cycle satellite and debris tracking and feed into global SSA networks.
Defence Optical Tracking Systems
High-speed video-tracking optical systems built for defence test ranges and direct energy programmes. Systems combine very high optical quality with mechanical stiffness to survive dynamic stress, supporting ballistic target characterisation in both visible and infrared bands. The MITS (Multispectral Imaging and Tracking System) programme was delivered for Photosonic Inc. under a US Army contract.
Videos
Officina Stellare Corporate Video
Open Positions (0)
No positions available
Officina Stellare doesn't have any open positions at the moment.
About
Officina Stellare is an Italian opto-mechanical engineering company founded in 2009 by Riccardo Gianni, Giovanni Dal Lago and Gino Bucciol in Sarcedo, near Vicenza. The company designs, manufactures and delivers integrated optical systems for space, ground station and defence markets, covering everything from custom space telescopes and electro-optical payloads to laser communication terminals and adaptive optics benches.
Offices
Sarcedo, ItalyArlington, United StatesBacked by
Satellogic (strategic investor)Investindustrial (via Global Aerospace Technologies Group)
Customers & Partners
SatellogicLeonardo S.p.A.ArgotecPhotosonic Inc. (US Army)Italian Space Agency (ASI)European Space Agency (ESA)Thales Alenia Space ItaliaEGEOS SpAYLARA Laser Ranging Station (Yebes Observatory)DLR (German Aerospace Center)Universität der Bundeswehr MünchenDigos GmbH
Timeline
2025
Approved business combination with Global Aerospace Technologies Group, backed by Investindustrial, to form an Italian listed aerospace and defence technology group.
2022
Satellogic completed a €3.8 million strategic investment in Officina Stellare, deepening a supply relationship for Earth observation telescope payloads that began in 2016.
2020
Acquired Dynamic Optics and ThinkQuantum, and established OS Corporation in Arlington, Virginia to serve the US market.
2015
Listed on Borsa Italiana's AIM market (now Euronext Growth Milan), becoming one of the first Italian space SMEs to access public capital markets.
2012
First orbital telescope launched on a space mission.
2009
Founded in Sarcedo, Italy by Riccardo Gianni, Giovanni Dal Lago and Gino Bucciol, and secured an early contract with NASA on the SOFIA airborne observatory project.
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