XCOM: Enemy Unknown satellites guide: uplinks, panic and funding
Plan satellite production, launch capacity and air coverage before the Council report.
Edition covered
The 2012 Enemy Unknown campaign. Enemy Within adds Meld, MEC troops, gene modifications and other systems outside these guides. Publisher screenshots are from Enemy Unknown; Long War and XCOM 2 use different rules.
Production and capacity are separate
Engineering builds satellites; uplinks provide deployment capacity. Check both before counting on a launch to help a country with rising panic.
| Component | Where to manage it | Verify |
|---|---|---|
| Satellite | Engineering | Production completed |
| Capacity | Uplink or Nexus | A free deployment slot |
| Country | Situation Room | Panic and current coverage |
| Power and space | Base layout | Facility requirements |
| Air response | Hangar | Aircraft position and equipment |
Review country panic before launch
Coverage supports a country and increases funding. Compare the Council nations instead of choosing only the richest one while another is close to withdrawing.
| Stage | Decision | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Early month | Plan production and facilities | Assuming instant construction |
| After missions | Recheck country panic | Following an outdated priority |
| Before Council report | Use ready coverage deliberately | Forgetting a finished satellite |
| After expansion | Review interceptors | Detecting threats without a response |
Allow construction time
Facilities require space, power and time. Begin enabling work early enough that a finished satellite does not sit unused while the uplink is still under construction.
Protect new coverage from the air
Interceptors operate by continent. Review the Hangar when your network expands so detecting a UFO does not leave you without an aircraft able to respond.
Interceptors operate by continent. Review the Hangar when your network expands so detecting a UFO does not leave you without an aircraft able to respond.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| XCOM: Enemy Unknown publisher listing | store.steampowered.com |
| Enemy Unknown manual | store.steampowered.com |