The geopolitical power plays in Earth observation

Running story
The geopolitical power plays in Earth observation

As global strategic rivalries return to the fore - in Ukraine, Gaza, the Taiwan Straight and in Africa, where Russia is a force to be reckoned with - accumulating crises are influencing the spy-satellite power players: who observes what, who sets up where, who sows alliances with whom and, increasingly, who releases what data publicly.

The upshot is that the targets selected for observation, the countries being courted, and the NGOs and broadcasters being brought into the loop all provide insight into the major space players' strategies and focal points.

The geopolitical power plays in Earth observation

Europe, United States
BCG mulls acquisition of European space sector advisory

Insiders say the "preferred partnership agreement" signed between Boston Consulting Group and Novaspace in June is the first step to a possible takeover, with parties agreeing to test their compatibility.

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Spotlight | India
Geospatial intelligence: India turns to New Space to catch up with China

Earth observation programmes developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation are failing to make up for the country's lag in space intelligence. New Delhi is turning to another entity to try to regain the upper hand over Beijing in the segment.

A scale model of the NISAR satellite, a joint Earth-observing mission between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), is displayed at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California on 3 February 2023.
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A scale model of the NISAR satellite, a joint Earth-observing mission between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), is displayed at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California on 3 February 2023.

Europe
Details emerge on German, East European geospatial intelligence plans

Plans in the pipeline in Germany and several Eastern European countries will redraw the map of power regarding space-based intelligence capabilities. Long a dominant force, Paris may soon be left behind.

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Brazil
BRICS' fervour for geospatial intelligence on the wane

The BRICS alliance recently set out considerable ambitions for space cooperation, notably in the area of geospatial intelligence. But the conclusions of their most recent summit show a diminished collective zeal, and marked differences as regards the implementation of a large-scale programme.

Opening of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, 6 July 2025.
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Opening of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, 6 July 2025.

Spotlight | Iran, United States
How Washington uses satellite imagery to guide media analysis of Iran

Washington has mastered the art of selectively releasing satellite imagery to serve its narratives. While the Pentagon allows contractor Maxar to release images of Iranian nuclear sites, it also uses a discreet licensing system to prevent the publication of images of the much more strategic Strait of Hormuz.

A handout satellite image made available by Maxar shows a crater over the underground facility of the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility after US airstrikes in Iran, 22 June 2025.
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A handout satellite image made available by Maxar shows a crater over the underground facility of the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility after US airstrikes in Iran, 22 June 2025.

Europe, United States
Maxar, Airbus, BlackSky: competition heats up for satellite alternatives to GPS

The use of virtual terrain reproductions known as "digital twins" has become decisive on battlefields where GPS signals are jammed. They are now the subject of an intense battle between geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) providers seeking to win contracts with Western militaries.

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Europe
ICEYE-Rheinmetall alliance has Earth Observation mega-contracts in sight

Finnish radar imaging constellation operator ICEYE has just launched a joint venture with Germany's Rheinmetall, and is rapidly expanding an R&D centre in Spain, a string of contracts in Eastern Europe and agreements in Japan.

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India
India losing ground in geospatial intelligence to Pakistan-China allies

The loss at launch of the Risat-1B radar observation satellite on 18 May comes at the worst possible time for India's military, which is in desperate need of imagery over Kashmir. And while Pakistan remains a minor player in the field, it can count on solid Chinese support.

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China, Russia
BRICS faces geospatial intelligence data-sharing obstacles

The countries making up the organisation had lofty ambitions for cooperation in space, in particular for image sharing. But the first documents issued by Brazil, which is organising the group's next summit on 6 and 7 July, show that for the time being, collaboration is very limited.

Free access Surveillance & Interception 13.05.2025

United States
Space surveillance emerging as a market for Earth observation operators

LeoLabs' unveiling of its investigations into the misfortunes of Russia's Kosmos 2553 military reconnaissance satellite shows how all space surveillance resources, from the ground to satellite observation capabilities, now complement one another.

A ground-based space radar belonging to the American company LeoLabs, in the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
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A ground-based space radar belonging to the American company LeoLabs, in the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

China, United States
Washington seeks out site of China's future Malaysia spaceport

US spy satellites are being deployed to locate the site for Malaysia and China's possible future spaceport.

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India
New Delhi steps up geospatial intelligence efforts to counter Beijing

April's start of commercially available data from Pixxel's first three Firefly hyperspectral satellites reflects the rise of India's New Space sector.

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North Korea, South Korea
Seoul steps up its satellite surveillance of Pyongyang

South Korea, which launched its fourth spy satellite on 22 April, is gaining significant capacity to monitor North Korea.

South Korea launched its second spy satellite from Florida, US, on 7 April 2024.
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South Korea launched its second spy satellite from Florida, US, on 7 April 2024.

United States
GEOINT leaders turn to exports amid stock market turmoil

Military New Space in the Trump era - part 2: BlackSky, Planet, Satellogic, the surge in GEOINT share prices following Donald Trump's election has come to an abrupt halt. Now more than ever, leading players are relying on export customers (Israel, Japan, Brazil) to recoup their losses.

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Turkey
Erdogan's African space base spotted from above

Both China and the West have had their spy satellites hone in on a particular section of Somalia's coastline in recent weeks. It appears to be the construction site of a Turkish space base, the location of which Ankara has been keeping secret.

Free access Surveillance & Interception 08.04.2025

Vietnam
Airbus eager to maintain its Earth observation link with Hanoi

Vietnam's remote sensing agency, the National Remote Sensing Department, is in talks with Airbus Defence and Space (ADS) to secure a maintenance contract for the ground station of VNREDsat-1, the country's first Earth observation satellite.

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United States
Albedo gives Washington edge in ultra-high resolution satellite imaging race

With real or imagined pressure from China a hot topic in Washington, the launch of Albedo's Clarity-1 satellite via SpaceX's Transporter 13 mission on 15 March has propelled the US forward in the race for very high resolution Earth observation imagery.

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Russia
Russia scrambling to keep up in race for 3D Earth observation imagery

Russia, like the US, Japan and France before it, is preparing to launch new satellites that demonstrate a renewed interest in 3D Earth observation imagery. As on the Ukraine front, 3D imagery is becoming a vital component of real-time digital reproductions of theatres of operation and infrastructure.

LogoSubscribers only Surveillance & Interception 12.03.2025

China
China makes leap forward in space-based intelligence

With the Trump administration's paradigm shift leaving Washington in disarray, and drastic cuts looming for US scientific agencies, Beijing has been closing the gap in its space defence and intelligence repertoire with low-orbit satellite launches.

LogoSubscribers only Surveillance & Interception 17.02.2025

United States
Planet Labs worried about Trump administration's geospatial intelligence plans

The new Trump administration is set to bring change to the geospatial intelligence sector, with backing from Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency. Planet Labs already has reason to be concerned.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk watch the launch of the sixth test flight of SpaceX Starship rocket on 19 November 2024 in Brownsville, Texas.
LogoSubscribers only Surveillance & Interception 20.01.2025
Donald Trump and Elon Musk watch the launch of the sixth test flight of SpaceX Starship rocket on 19 November 2024 in Brownsville, Texas.

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Running story
The geopolitical power plays in Earth observation


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