Defiant Satellite Bus

Data current as of 2026-07-20.

The Defiant bus accounts for 18 cataloged objects, of which 14 are in orbit and 12 are active. 4 have reentered. Most are built by UTIAS. The largest operator on this bus is HawkEye 360. The first launched in 2021, the most recent in 2025.

14
In orbit
12
Active
18
Total launched
4
Reentered

Defiant launched per year

2 4 6 2021: 6 objects launched 2022: 6 launched, 3 since reentered 2023: 2 launched, 1 since reentered 2024: 0 objects launched 2025: 4 objects launched 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Still in orbit Since reentered Click a year to list its satellites.

Typical specifications

Most common values across cataloged Defiant satellites.

Manufacturer UTIAS
Purpose RF spectrum monitoring, SIGINT, Traffic monitoring
Launch mass 31 kg
Dry mass 30 kg
Length 0.5 m
Diameter 0.4 m
Span 1 m
Shape Box + 2 pan
Power Solar cells, batteries
Propulsion FEES or water thrusters (#2-6); water thrusters (#7-...)
Design life 3 years
Equipment AIS-receiver, SmallCAT, VDES, Laser Reflector
Typical orbit 94 min period, 98° inclination

Top operators

HawkEye 360 12 DRDC/UTIAS 3 NSC 2 TCANL 1

Top countries

US 12 CA 4 N 2

Defiant satellites

Track any of them live in KeepTrack.

Name NORAD COSPAR Owner Launched Orbit Status Track
NORSAT-4 NORSAT-4 62705 2025-009DA NSC Jan 14, 2025 96 min, 97.8° Active
Jay D2 Jay D2 62643 2025-009AL DRDC/UTIAS Jan 14, 2025 89 min, 97.4° Inactive
Jay D1 Jay D1 62642 2025-009AK DRDC/UTIAS Jan 14, 2025 94 min, 97.4° Active
Jay C Jay C 62641 2025-009AJ DRDC/UTIAS Jan 14, 2025 94 min, 97.4° Active
LEO 3 Telesat LEO 3 57392 2023-100G TCANL Jul 18, 2023 105 min, 99.6° Inactive
NORSAT-TD NORSAT-TD 56194 2023-054S NSC Apr 15, 2023 88 min, 97.3° Reentered
HAWK-5A Hawk 5A 52757 2022-057AB HE360 May 25, 2022 93 min, 97.7° Active
HAWK-5B Hawk 5B 52756 2022-057AA HE360 May 25, 2022 93 min, 97.7° Active
HAWK-5C Hawk 5C 52754 2022-057Y HE360 May 25, 2022 93 min, 97.7° Active
HAWK-4C Hawk 4C 52170 2022-033P HE360 Apr 1, 2022 87 min, 97.3° Reentered
HAWK-4A Hawk 4A 52167 2022-033L HE360 Apr 1, 2022 87 min, 97.3° Reentered
HAWK-4B Hawk 4B 52165 2022-033J HE360 Apr 1, 2022 87 min, 97.3° Reentered
HAWK-3A Hawk 3A 48957 2021-059CG HE360 Jun 30, 2021 92 min, 97.7° Active
HAWK-3C Hawk 3C 48948 2021-059BX HE360 Jun 30, 2021 92 min, 97.7° Active
HAWK-3B Hawk 3B 48931 2021-059BE HE360 Jun 30, 2021 92 min, 97.7° Active
HAWK-2B Hawk 2B 47508 2021-006CZ HE360 Jan 24, 2021 94 min, 97.2° Active
HAWK-2A Hawk 2A 47505 2021-006CW HE360 Jan 24, 2021 94 min, 97.2° Active
HAWK-2C Hawk 2C 47502 2021-006CT HE360 Jan 24, 2021 94 min, 97.2° Active

Frequently asked questions

How many Defiant satellites are there?

The catalog lists 18 objects built on the Defiant bus. 14 are in orbit and 4 have reentered.

How many Defiant satellites are in orbit?

14 Defiant objects are currently in orbit, of which 12 carry an active status.

Who builds the Defiant bus?

The Defiant bus is most commonly built by UTIAS.

When did the first Defiant satellite launch?

The first cataloged Defiant satellite launched in 2021, and the most recent in 2025.

Satellite data compiled by KeepTrack from CelesTrak, Space-Track, and GCAT, provided under CC BY-NC 4.0.