Spotlight | France, Russia, Ukraine, United States
Geospatial intelligence providers caught in the middle of Russia-Ukraine war

Ukraine
Kyiv fears loss of secure US radio network as well as intelligence

With the US announcing a 'pause' in its support for Ukraine, Kyiv fears not just the loss of spy satellite image streams but also the loss of Harris secure radio systems, more discreet but just as important as arms deliveries and the iconic Starlink terminals.

United States
In face of Chinese competition, geospatial intelligence capability communication is weaponised

In a context of heightened competition with China, any information disseminated - or not - about Washington's space-based intelligence capabilities is becoming a political tool. Highlighting Beijing's resources in this area is also likely to push US authorities to increase budgets in this sector.

Colombia, France
French night vision firm narrowly avoids sinking in Colombian anti-corruption maelstrom

The Bogota-based reseller of Exasens equipment, formerly Photonis, is at war with the Colombian defence ministry, amid suspicions of corruption. The French group told Intelligence Online that it has moved on from the affair.

United States
Pentagon brings its geospatial intelligence operators back in line

The leading Earth observation company Maxar Intelligence, whose satellite launches have been repeatedly delayed, has tightened its focus to keep in line with the Pentagon. The company's shift mirrors changes in the US Defense Department's entire strategy, which is driving consolidation in the sector.

United States
The Pentagon's major image processing project Maven makes budget comeback

After seven years in the making, Project Maven - a military artificial intelligence project dedicated to image processing - is in better health after the NGA took over the helm.

Europe, Finland, United States
Finland takes lead in European strategic space industry

Having abandoned its neutrality in the face of Russia's war on Ukraine, Finland is making its mark in intelligence and space technology. After the rise to prominence of ICEYE, a second Finnish geospatial intelligence company, Kuva Space, is entering orbit.

China, United States
Radio silence from operators on solar storm damage to observation satellites

Solar storms this year have resulted in the loss of numerous images from intelligence satellites. But so far, the satellites' operators are keeping mum about that massive reduction in capacity.

Europe, France, Japan, South Korea
Tokyo and Seoul go all in for Airbus imagery

With Maxar taking control of the US market, Japanese and South Korean government agencies are increasingly relying on the European group Airbus for their imaging needs.

Europe
NATO seeks imagery for its Aquila virtual constellation project

To make up for its satellite intelligence shortfall and acquire stronger data-sharing and fusion capacities, NATO is launching the virtual constellation Aquila. Discussions are underway with European and US companies.

Spotlight | United States
NUVIEW and Array Labs in race to launch LiDAR satellite constellations

The US startup NUVIEW wants to carve out a niche for itself in the market of laser imaging satellites. Its main competitor operating in this new frontier of geospatial intelligence is the more established American tech firm Array Labs.

The Tech Times
Startup Wyvern hires GEOINT vets, Meta engages privacy lobbyists, Braccioli takes DigitalPlatforms to UAE, NATO's OSINT platform tender

Whether in SIGINT, GEOINT, OSINT or cyber, we report each week on developments great and small in the world of technical intelligence providers.

Edmonton Canada's Wyvern appoints two US vice-presidents

Washington Meta hires specialist lobbyists for crusade against OSINT

Dubai Former Area VP Braccioli takes DigitalPlatforms to UAE

Brussels NATO issues tender for OSINT early warning platform

Belarus
Belarusian 'Bellingcat' caught up in opposing disinformation campaigns

Run by exiled journalist and activist Anton Motolko, the @Hajun_BY Telegram channel gathers information about Russian troop and military hardware movements in Belarus. Used by private sector consultants and the Belarusian opposition alike, the channel has also come under attack from Belarusian intelligence services.

Ukraine, United States
Intelligent Waves takes Owl to court over secret Air Force lab contracts

The US cybersecurity firm Intelligent Waves's lawsuit against Owl Cyber Defense Solutions before a court in Virginia has exposed the details of a secure communications contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory, which has been equipping the Ukrainian forces since the Russian offensive.

Ukraine
Ukrainian space agency takes on enhanced satellite communications role

Work is piling up on the desk of the new interim head of the Ukrainian space agency as the war with Russia rages on. The agency is set to take on greater responsibility for satellite communications, but wants to become more self-sufficient in this area and improve its overall efficiency.

Ukraine
Kyiv tries to stop Moscow benefiting from indirect IT support from the GAFAM

Although there are wide-ranging restrictions on the sale of military equipment and IT systems to Russia, some software and services are not covered by the sanctions. A group of experts is looking to remedy the situation.

Spotlight | Bangladesh
Hasib Chowdhury, the interface between interception companies and Bangladeshi technical intelligence

British businessman Chowdhury, who heads Berkeley Advisory, is the chief architect of Bangladesh's major intelligence programmes.

United States
Grist Mill Exchange trades in commercially sourced intelligence for the CIA

The consultancy founded by several ex-CIA officers wants to help intelligence agencies solve a challenge: how to tap into commercially sourced data. Already being seen in satellite imagery, this practice is now turning to the collection of Internet user browsing datasets.

Saudi Arabia
Riyadh set to announce GEOINT satellite constellation launch

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been betting on space for several years, and his country is now about to follow in the Emirates' footsteps and announce an Earth-observation satellite constellation programme.

Spotlight | UAE
Edge Group to pilot Abu Dhabi's multi-constellation spy satellites programme

The United Arab Emirates aims to achieve operational independence in geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) through the construction of four constellations of surveillance satellites. This major project is being overseen by E mirati defence conglomerate Edge Group.

Ukraine
Kyiv confirms space sector as a national security priority

The Ukrainian space agency could soon be classed alongside the defence ministry and the intelligence community as one of the basic guarantors of the country's national security. The Zelensky administration has long been pushing for this.

Russia, UAE
Russian spatial imagery experts escape to Abu Dhabi

Along with US- and EU-sanctioned oligarchs, the United Arab Emirates is also opening its doors to fleeing Russian industry brains in key areas such as spatial imagery.

Russia
Jet Infosystems, the Kremlin's all-terrain IT supplier

The Moscow-based firm, which even operates in foreign military theatres, nurtures its security networks through its chief lobbyist, Vadim Shustov.

Ukraine, United States
Ukraine's US lobbyists target New York City Hall

City Hall has been a key centre of activity for the PR consultants and lobbyists who have gone into action since the start of the Russian offensive on Ukraine. Kharkiv-based NGO GloBee, which is headed by a public strategy consultant, is using the services of Mercury and YourGlobalStrategy.

France
French armed forces general staff prioritises information warfare capacities

With information warfare a huge component of the Ukrainian conflict and France fast losing ground in the Sahel, the French armed forces general staff is determined to regain its footing in the field.

France, United States
Space imaging provider Planet on a seduction mission in Paris

The US space observation company Planet hopes to enter the French market at a time when the Russian offensive in Ukraine has led to a boost of the intelligence sector. The company's high-resolution mission director Philippe Campenon is in charge of leading this politically charged sales effort.

Spotlight | Europe, Russia, Ukraine
Tallinn, rear base for Ukrainian cyber companies at war

Several of the local firms Kyiv has put to use on its cyber front line with Russia, such as Cyber Unit Technologies and Hacken, are registered in Estonia. The Ukrainian vice prime minister Mykhailo Fedorov is responsible for overseeing procedural and legal matters.

France
French government paves way for spatial requisitions

In France, where space innovation is increasingly entrusted to industry and startups, the government has introduced legal changes that give it increased power to requisition space goods and services.

United States
Maxar-Aurora pairing a fresh sign of imagery and RF interception synergies

Following a trend set by operators of RF interception satellite constellations, the US firm Aurora Insight has teamed with the satellite imagery outfit Maxar. However the strategy is slightly different from that of rival firms.

France, Russia, Ukraine
How Paris prepared its intelligence services for the Russian offensive in Ukraine

France was quick to set aside its reservations about the likelihood of an imminent Russian invasion and put its intelligence services and military units on standby a few hours before it started. The main focus was then to make up for its human resource gaps.

United Kingdom, United States
RF interception specialist Kleos follows Satellogic into the Americas

The Luxembourg-based British operator of radio frequency reconnaissance satellites, which until now had bypassed analytics platforms, has formed a partnership with the US-Argentine earth observation specialist Satellogic to combine their data into one such platform.

Russia, United States
NGA contributes to Western influence counter-offensive against Wagner in Africa with Tearline

While Paris is trying to win the influence war against the Russian paramilitary group Wagner the old-fashioned way, Washington has turned to the research world and NGOs with its Tearline program. The program's latest research focuses on Wagner's various activities in Africa.

France, United States
Unseenlabs looks to enlist ex-NGA executive to boost US operation

French signals intelligence satellite operator Unseenlabs is looking to bring in new consultants to help establish itself in the United States. Among them is Keith Masback, former head of the Open Sources Group at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.

United States
Planet's SPAC deal reveals the scale of the challenges it faces

By using a SPAC to obtain a stock exchange listing, US New Space GEOINT pioneer Planet, had to release information which shows the scale of the financial and industrial challenges which still lie ahead of it.

United States
Umbra Lab joins crowded radar imagery race

The Pentagon is heavily behind the development of radar imagery satelites, which has prompted a fierce scramble between startups.

United States
Google's wings clipped by shutter control

Having burst onto the Geospatial-Intelligence (GEOINT) scene a year ago, Google and others newcomers in the market have since bowed down to the federal government.