Weekly GEOINT Community News

Maxar Signs Joint Strategic Intent

Maxar Technologies signed a joint statement of strategic intent with the Australian Space Agency. Both will investigate collaboration in areas of mutual strategic interest related to Earth intelligence and space infrastructure capabilities, and space-related Australian education and training initiatives. Projects may include development of next-generation space robotics, ground stations focused on optimized servicing of large satellite constellations, optical and communications satellites, space-based maritime surveillance, and artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies that extract insights from Earth observation data at scale.

Defense Innovation Unit Solicits SatCom Antenna System

The Defense Innovation Unit released solicitations for a multi-domain tactical communications system and dismounted assured positioning, navigation and timing platform. The first solicitation seeked proposals for a satellite communication antenna system designed to support multiple links in K-, Ka-, S-, X-, C- and Q-band signals that can be installed aboard DDG 1000-class ships. The second solicitation looked for a handheld PNT device designed to help dismounted soldiers operate in GPS-denied environments.

Boeing Sets Up New Consortium

Boeing set up a new consortium of international companies, called IRSA Development Group (IDG), to work on a scalable, all-domain system-of-systems for remote sensing and persistent monitoring of the Arctic and other remote areas. The network comprises satellites, high altitude long endurance (HALE) drones, medium altitude long endurance (MALE) drones, small-unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), sea-surface and sub-sea platforms, and ground stations.

WMR-532, LLC Signs $49.9M Geospatial Contract

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Mobile District, signed the WMR-532, a Woolpert-Optimal GEO joint venture, to provide operations, maintenance, and technical support services for the Joint Airborne Lidar Bathymetry Technical Center of Expertise (JALBTCX). The five-year, firm-fixed-price contract has a value of $49.9M. WMR-532 will collect and process bathymetric and topographic LiDAR utilizing the government’s Coastal Zone Mapping and Imaging LiDAR (CZMIL) systems, gathering high-resolution imagery and 3D data of the beach and shallow water seafloor.

AirMap & Raytheon Make Skies Safer For Drones

The FAA enforced a “No Drone Zone” within a 15-mile-radius of the National Capitol Region. The mobile app AirMap can help avoid trouble. It shows drone pilots where it’s safe to fly and where it’s not. In June, Raytheon signed a strategic agreement with AirMap to collaborate on helping users safely fly small Unmanned Aerial Systems, or drones, in the National Airspace System.

 12 SuperDove Satellites Aboard PSLV

On November 20, 12 of Planet’s latest-generation SuperDoves are scheduled for launch, joining the 26 SuperDove prototypes already in orbit. The SuperDove line features increased spectral bands and significant improvements in satellite performance. The satellites will launch aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), an expendable medium-lift launch vehicle designed and operated by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

Next-Generation LEO Satellite

Addvalue Innovation delivered the first flight model of its Inter-satellite Data Relay System (IDRS) terminal to Capella Space. The IDRS system features Addvalue’s proprietary technology, which provides the world’s first commercial on-demand, real-time connection for LEO satellites. Addvalue Innovation stated this is a significant milestone on the road to next-generation LEO satellite constellation operations.

Peer Intel

Altamira Technologies Corporation promoted Blaine Worthington to Chief Operating Officer. Worthington has been with Altamira 6 years, most recently leading the Defense Intelligence sector.

Centauri hired Gavin Greene as Vice President of Business Development for its space and airborne engineering business. He will report directly to Patricia Nunn, Centauri’s senior vice president of business development.

Raytheon Chairman and CEO Thomas A. Kennedy announced new leadership appointments for the company. Roy Azevedo will be president of the Intelligence, Space and Airborne Systems, which combines Space and Airborne Systems (SAS); Intelligence, Information and Services (IIS); and Forcepoint. Wesley D. Kremer will be president of the Integrated Defense and Missile Systems, which combines Missile Systems (MS) and Integrated Defense Systems (IDS). This announcement follows the recent appointment of Anthony “Toby” O’Brien as chief financial officer.

Photo Credit: Raytheon