U.S. commercial space companies tapped as foreign nations want 'sovereign' observation
WASHINGTON - American satellite imaging companies are witnessing a boom in demand from unexpected customers: those based abroad.
Earth observation satellite operators such as Maxar Intelligence, BlackSky, Planet Labs and Capella Space are increasingly looking beyond traditional United States government customers and instead aiming to serve foreign nations who want their own surveillance capabilities. These companies, while still tethered closely to U.S. government contracts, are recasting themselves as global vendors of what they call “sovereign” space capabilities. As a result, they are striking high-value international deals that promise long-term revenue and access to new markets, Sandra Erwin writes for SpaceNews. Continue reading original article.
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
9 June 2025 -SpaceNews' Erwin notes that geopolitical shifts and the democratization of Earth observation technology are driving this trend. Nations that once depended on U.S. intelligence are now investing in their own geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) systems, drawn by their utility in both defense and civilian sectors such as energy, agriculture, and infrastructure.
The commercial satellite industry’s transformation - from a domain dominated by billion-dollar government programs to one leveraging affordable, agile commercial technology - has opened the field to countries previously unable to participate. The Ukraine war further demonstrated the battlefield value of commercial satellite imagery, accelerating global interest.
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Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics
