SMILE's payload consists of two imaging instruments – the wide field of view soft X-ray imager (SXI) and an auroral ultraviolet imager (UVI). An additional in situ measurement package will work in conjunction with the imagers to explore the properties of the solar wind. This package contains a light ion analyser (LIA) and a magnetometer (MAG), which are built using knowledge and experience gained from past missions including ESA's Cluster and ESA-CNSA Double Star fleets.

The IWF, in close cooperation with international partners, contributes the electronics box for SXI. The institute is coordinating the development and design of the Digital Processing Unit (DPU) and is responsible for the mechanical design and the tests at box level.

Research Groups