Sweden’s YMIR-1 Makes History: First VDES Satellite to Power Global Maritime Data Exchange

A revolution in maritime communication is underway, and Sweden is leading the way…

With the launch and successful in-orbit demonstration of the fully Swedish-built YMIR-1 satellite and payload, Sweden has achieved a global first: proving that the next-generation VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) can operate reliably from space.

The AOS mission (AAC Clyde Space, ORBCOMM & Saab consortium)  received research grants from the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) and developed entirely within Sweden’s borders, YMIR-1 is the first mission of its kind to validate bi-directional VDES communication via satellite. That means real-time, secure, global data exchange is no longer a future ambition — it’s happening now.

“This mission demonstrates how public research grants can contribute to Sweden as a global innovation leader. VDES from orbit is a critical enabler for the future of maritime safety and digitalization which was an important factor in Trafikverket´s decision to support the research initiative.
— Rikard Engström, Swedish Transport Administration

As global shipping grows more complex and maritime operations increasingly depend on real-time information, new ways of exchanging digital data between vessels and shore are urgently needed. Traditional systems are limited in scope, and today’s maritime environment demands simple, secure, and resilient solutions that can deliver bi-directional data exchange anywhere on the planet, not just near coastal infrastructure.

With space-based VDES, the YMIR-1 mission introduces exactly that: a trusted and scalable digital link between ships, ports, and authorities across even the most remote ocean routes. This new capability supports real-time updates, safer navigation, coordinated logistics, and faster emergency response, all from space.

This next-generation capability has far-reaching implications: it supports safer global trade, enhances maritime security and defense awareness, protects marine ecosystems, enables more effective rescue operations, and opens the door to satellite-driven Maritime IoT, fostering innovations that serve not just Sweden, but the global maritime community.

First in Orbit: VDES Capability Proven in Space

Since entering orbit, YMIR-1 has delivered a series of world-firsts in satellite-based VDES performance. These are not simulations or lab tests, they are validated real-world operations, proven in live maritime environments.

Between August 2024 and January 2025, the satellite successfully demonstrated bi-directional data exchange using VDES Link IDs 21 (uplink) and 32 (downlink). One of the highlights came in February 2025, when the system broadcast an S-124 Navigational Warning, split into 145 message fragments, from orbit to active vessels, including the Stena Germanica, operating between Gothenburg and Kiel. The signal was received not only onboard ships but also by Saab’s facility in Linköping.

Luis Gomes, CEO, AAC Clyde Space:
“YMIR-1 is a landmark achievement — not just for Sweden, but for the future of maritime operations worldwide. It proves that space-based VDES is real, it works, and it can scale. We’re proud to have designed and built this satellite in Sweden, demonstrating the power of innovation when public ambition meets engineering excellence.”

This live communication proved the satellite’s ability to deliver critical maritime safety messages over great distances, with minimal power usage (just 1W). This is a critical capability, the ability to deliver navigational warnings in an emerging digital format, that many existing systems are not equipped to support. Repeated under different satellite-to-ship geometries, the test also laid groundwork for understanding performance in varying real-world conditions.

From Innovation to Impact: Real-World Uses of VDES in Sweden and Beyond

YMIR-1 is more than a technological showcase; it’s a working demonstration of how Sweden’s innovation ecosystem can directly contribute to national resilience and global maritime progress. As one of the first sovereign nations to test and operate VDES from space, Sweden now possesses a platform that can directly improve lives and industry outcomes.

VDES enables:

• Smarter routing allowing vessels and VTS operators to exchange updated navigation routes and in real-time, improving safety and efficiency and reducing emissions.
• Improved Navigational Warning enabling real-time distress signal relay from vessels to authorities, even in remote waters.
• More efficient shipping and logistics routing connecting vessels to ports, tugs and pilots with real-time updates on arrival times, weather and berth scheduling.
• Environmental monitoring and spill detection, better sensor data transmission for vessels operating in for example ecologically sensitive zones like the Öresund or the Barents Sea.
• Better fishing safety and zone compliance with real-time distribution of maritime safety information (MSI), such as temporary restricted areas or navigation hazards, to Swedish fishing fleets.
• Border and coastal security enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) for agencies monitoring Swedish waters, especially where terrestrial networks are unavailable.

These aren’t hypothetical, they are among the real applications listed in IALA G1117, which outlines how VDES can support Search and Rescue, Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), Maritime Safety Information (MSI), ship reporting, chart updates, port communication, and even ship route exchange. All of this becomes possible, securely and in real time, with satellite-backed infrastructure now operational in orbit, thanks to YMIR-1.

Greg Flessate, SVP & GM, AIS & Maritime Data Services, ORBCOMM Inc.:
“The success of YMIR-1 is more than a technological milestone — it’s a real-world game changer. By enabling secure, global VDES connectivity, we’re unlocking faster emergency response, more efficient vessel routing, and smarter logistics across oceans. ORBCOMM is proud to support this mission and help shape a future where every ship, no matter how remote, stays connected and informed in real time.”

Countdown to 2028: Industry-Wide Transition Underway

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has officially endorsed VDES for inclusion in SOLAS Chapter V, effective January 1, 2028. This milestone signals a pivotal shift for global shipping—VDES is no longer just an emerging innovation, but a core element of the industry’s future. With this endorsement, the uptake of VDES will be central to enhancing safety, efficiency, and connectivity at sea.

And Sweden is already helping to pave the way:

 “The transition to VDES represents more than just compliance; it’s an opportunity to shape a more connected, safer, and smarter maritime domain – powered by TransponderTech’s world-class VDES payload, delivering unmatched performance for both VDES and AIS.”
— Johanna Gustafsson, CEO, Saab TransponderTech

An Ecosystem in Motion

Thanks to Swedish and international partners, the VDES ecosystem is rapidly taking shape:

• Saab TransponderTech is delivering shipborne, coastal and space VDES-ready infrastructure
• AAC Clyde Space’s YMIR-1 is one of the first satellites in orbit to support VDES — and a proven template for the next wave of space-based maritime communication systems
• ORBCOMM is ensuring global VDES connectivity through its data services communications platform

This mission has already catalysed further integration across the global maritime sector. Most notably, AAC Clyde Space has been invited to contribute its VDES satellite technology to the UK’s INFLECION Constellation — a national initiative focused on enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and demonstrating a range of Maritime Service based on VDES technology.

This opportunity places Sweden’s satellite engineering expertise at the heart of one of Europe’s most ambitious maritime space programs. For the VDES community, it’s a major step forward:

• It validates YMIR-1’s architecture as a platform for international adoption
• It accelerates the pathway toward multi-satellite VDES constellations in Low Earth Orbit
• And it anchors VDES as a key enabler for smarter maritime surveillance, environmental monitoring, and vessel safety at scale

The momentum continues with early-stage discussions on a potential VDES constellation, built on the technology, protocols, and performance benchmarks established by YMIR-1.

Sweden: Leading the Maritime Digital Age

With YMIR-1, Sweden has not only proven the viability of VDES from space, it has positioned itself as a global frontrunner in maritime digital transformation. The AOS YMIR-1 mission is proving what’s possible when national ambition meets international opportunity, and it stands as a model for how strategic partnerships can deliver real-world breakthroughs. As the maritime world looks toward a digital, connected, and sustainable future, Sweden is not just participating — it’s helping to lead the way.