RHEA then – and now

Since our creation in 1992, we have grown both organically and through acquisitions. From a foundation in the space sector, we have broadened our scope to encompass cyber and physical security expertise and a leading role in system engineering. We have built a reputation as a trusted partner, developing tailored solutions for a broad range of industries and unique capabilities for our clients’ missions and projects.

This timeline presents a selection of highlights from our last 30 years. For more information on any of our services and solutions, please get in touch.

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Explore our history

1992

Company formation

RHEA was created by three engineers in the Liège Science Park in Belgium. Our first client was the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany.

Eumetsat Frontalansicht building

1993

EUMETSAT becomes second client

RHEA acquired our second client, EUMETSAT, providing operational support for the first generation Meteosat satellites. Image © EUMETSAT

ESA Envisat satellite artist's impression copyright ESA

1997

MOIS is born

Development of the Manufacturing and Operations Information System (MOIS) tool suite started, initially as part of an ESA General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) contract. MOIS became the mission automation tool used as standard across ESA, as well as by other organizations, including many in the commercial sector. Image: ENVISAT used MOIS © ESA

2006

First contract with ESAC

RHEA experts started work at European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) on pioneering science missions.

2009

A new direction

André Sincennes became Managing Director of RHEA in 2009, after joining the company in 2007.

2010

Netherlands office opens

Our first Dutch office opened in Noordwijk to support our staff working at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC). We later opened a second Dutch office in Leiden.

2011

RHEA acquires J-CDS

JAQAR Concurrent Design Services (J-CDS) specialized in concurrent design and system engineering and its expert team had been working with ESA for many years. The acquisition marked the start of our highly successful work in this field.

GSA building in Prague, Czech Republic, 2017 copyright EUSPA

2012

First contract with GSA

We signed our first contract with the European GNSS Agency (GSA), marking the start of a long and fruitful cooperation which continues today in our work for GSA’s successor, the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA). Image: GSA in Prague, Czech Republic © EUSPA

2013

PANOPTESEC

We were selected to participate in the EU project PANOPTESEC, which aimed to detect vulnerabilities and possible attacks on sensitive information and essential services. This research project supported the development of cybersecurity tools that we are still using today.

Harwell Campus UK with ESA ECSAT building in foreground copyright Harwell Campus

2013

RHEATech UK opens office in Harwell

RHEATech UK opened an office in the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, one of the UK’s largest science parks, home to ESA’s European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT). Image © Harwell Campus

ESA's ESRIN site in Italy - image copyright ESA

2016

RHEA System S.p.A opens in Italy

To support our ongoing activities in ESRIN, ESA’s Centre for Earth Observation, we opened a local office in Frascati. Image © ESA

2017

Acquisition of APS Aviation Inc.

RHEA acquired APS Aviation, leader in aircraft ground deicing research and aviation engineering and research services.

2018

Phirelight acquisition

Phirelight Security Solutions was a Canadian company created in 2001 that specialized in the management and protection of critical assets.

RHEA Group head office in Wavre Belgium

2018

RHEA moves headquarters to Wavre

RHEA Group sets up its HQ in Wavre, near Brussels in Belgium.

2019

TSI Security acquisition

Canadian physical security specialist company TSI Security was fully integrated into RHEA Inc. in January 2021.

2020

RHEA opens Luxembourg subsidiary

RHEA Luxembourg S.A. opened to focus on national priority areas of space, cybersecurity and digital trust.

2021

ESA C-SOC contract

RHEA was a core member of the team awarded a contract by ESA to create a Cyber Safety and Security Operations Centre (C-SOC).

2021

STSD acquisition

Security Through Safe Design is a Canadian security consultancy that specializes in architectural security design, transportation security, large infrastructure projects and public–private partnerships.

Luxembourg old town

2021

Luxembourg defence contract

RHEA System Luxembourg S.A. and RHEA System S.A. (Belgium) were part of the LUXEOps partnership that signed a long-term service agreement with Luxembourg’s Directorate of Defence for the lifetime maintenance and operations of LUXEOSys, the Luxembourg Earth Observation System.

2021

RHEA opens French subsidiary

Based in Nice, RHEA Groupe France supports our activities with clients and partners based in France, in particular ESA, the European Commission (EC) and EUSPA.

2022

Launch of RHEA Cybersécurité France

RHEA Group and Holding Amarante joined forces in a joint venture, RHEA Cybersécurité France SAS, to cover the entire security value chain.

RHEA cybersecurity centre transinne 2022

2022

European Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence

RHEA, in partnership with IDELUX, announced a new European Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence in Transinne, Belgium, that will be operational by 2023. The new Centre will provide comprehensive 24/7 cybersecurity services for organizations in all sectors, including governments, defence and commercial.