BlackSky, the Earth imaging and analysis company, recently secured back-to-back contracts with the US Air Force, making significant strides in the field of satellite imagery and analysis. The first contract, valued at $3.5 million, was awarded by the Air Force Research Laboratory to provide satellite imagery and analysis to support global moving target engagement.
This contract follows a previous research contract and a $2 million award announced earlier, highlighting BlackSky’s expertise in providing the Air Force with satellite imagery data and data analysis platform access. Under the $2 million contract, the Air Force will utilize the data for studies and training artificial intelligence models focused on detecting and tracking moving objects and targets from space.
The $3.5 million contract is just the beginning of a larger contract worth up to $23 million over four years, according to an AFRL spokesperson. This contract falls under the Space Technology Advanced Research (STAR) contract, allowing BlackSky to leverage its commercial data sources and AI/ML algorithm expertise to support a hybrid architecture demonstration program evaluating the military utility of commercial and allied ISR capabilities.
The specific focus of the $3.5 million contract is the Global Moving Targets Engagement, aiming to explore the use of commercial data sources and associated algorithms to detect moving objects on a global scale. BlackSky and its subcontractors will work together to leverage various data sources and machine learning algorithms in a data fusion approach to advance commercial moving object detection capabilities.
The US Air Force has emphasized the importance of using satellites to track moving targets as it transitions towards space-based systems. By leveraging commercial satellite imagery and analysis, the Air Force aims to conduct intelligence collection without risking aircraft in hostile airspace. Additionally, the military is exploring radar satellites like Umbra to track moving targets, with the ultimate goal of developing a classified satellite constellation to monitor ground activities.
In conclusion, BlackSky’s recent contracts with the US Air Force underscore the growing significance of satellite imagery and analysis in modern military operations. The collaboration between the two entities represents a step forward in utilizing cutting-edge technology to enhance national security and intelligence capabilities.
