Nanoavionics’ success story in Lithuania

NanoAvionics: rooted in Lithuania, reaching beyond Earth

NanoAvionics was launched in 2014 in Lithuania following the successful LituanicaSAT-1 mission – one of the country’s first satellites developed at Vilnius University. What began as a university spin-off has grown into a global player designing small satellite buses and delivering end-to-end mission services for commercial, scientific, and civil projects worldwide.

Now part of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, the company pairs the fast-moving, innovative spirit of its Lithuanian roots with the strength of a globally trusted technology group. With headquarters in Vilnius and offices in Kaunas and the United States, NanoAvionics continues to expand its international footprint – growing from a proud Lithuanian base.

How a space-tech company is growing from its base in Lithuania

Space technology demands precision, and that starts with people. In Lithuania, supported by strong academic institutions and a practical research culture, NanoAvionics found the engineering talent it needed – experts in mechanical, electrical, and software fields capable of taking ideas from concept to orbit.

Surrounded by a growing high-tech ecosystem, the company has been able to keep design, production, and testing closely connected. This environment also offers access to advanced manufacturing, applied research, and cost-effective operations, enabling the company to scale internationally and deliver technically strong solutions.

From innovation to large-scale delivery: NanoAvionics’ rise in the satellite industry

What began as a small engineering team focused on core satellite systems has grown into a team delivering full missions. Today, the Lithuanian site leads key functions across the satellite lifecycle, including R&D, design, manufacturing, integration and in-orbit operations, enabling the company to take on more complex and long-duration missions.

Through continuous innovation, NanoAvionics has become a recognised name in the global satellite industry. In 2018, it became the first to standardise and commercialise larger 6U, 12U, and 16U CubeSat platforms. Extending that approach, the company introduced the MP42 microsatellite in 2021 to meet growing government, defence, and commercial demands and went on to launch more CubeSats between 2018 and 2024 than any other external manufacturer.

NanoAvionics’ satellite platforms have earned the trust of leading organisations, including NASA, Thales Alenia Space, MIT, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. Its growing role in the global space industry was further strengthened by a majority stake acquisition by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace in 2022 and a €122.5 million contract with SpinLaunch in 2025. All this leads the company to a new chapter as it takes on larger and more complex satellite missions worldwide.

NanoAvionics scales up for one of Europe’s largest satellite manufacturing orders

The contract signed with US-based SpinLaunch in 2025 marked a new chapter for NanoAvionics. With 280 satellites to be produced for a broadband megaconstellation, it stands among the largest manufacturing commitments in Europe. To meet this scale, the company is preparing to expand its production capacity, automate more processes, strengthen its supplier network, and grow its team by around 100 people. It is an ambitious step forward and a clear example of how a company that started small in Lithuania is now helping shape the future of satellite manufacturing on a global scale.