American satellite imaging companies are experiencing unprecedented demand from international customers.
Companies such as Maxar Intelligence, BlackSky, Planet Labs, and Capella Space are pivoting towards foreign nations seeking their own surveillance capabilities.
Traditionally reliant on U.S. government contracts, these firms are now positioning themselves as global providers of “sovereign” space capabilities.
As a result, they are securing high-value international agreements that promise sustained revenue streams and the expansion of their market reach.
This shift highlights the democratization of space-based Earth observation technology and indicates broader geopolitical changes in the global landscape.
Countries that historically depended on American intelligence sharing are recognizing the necessity of developing their own surveillance assets, as noted by Dave Gauthier, a former official with the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and chief strategy officer at GXO Inc.
An increasing number of nations are taking advantage of the commercial remote-sensing industry, which has evolved from being dominated by classified government programs to an innovative marketplace.
In response to spending cuts across federal agencies, including those that have been consistent customers for Earth observation satellites, U.S. companies are seeking to diversify their clientele.
Simultaneously, international demand for independent, space-based surveillance is rising, driven by regional tensions and a growing skepticism towards reliance on American intelligence.
Gauthier emphasizes that this trend is beneficial for business.
The appeal of commercial space-based remote sensing extends beyond the traditional military and intelligence sectors.
Countries are discovering that geospatial intelligence can aid vital industries, including energy, agriculture, and oil and gas.
Satellites serve various functions, such as mapping geological features for exploration, enabling real-time monitoring of crops, and overseeing energy infrastructure maintenance.
Gauthier states, “There’s broad utility to having geoint capabilities at your disposal.”
However, the international satellite intelligence services market operates within a complex regulatory and security framework.
Many contracts, especially with defense and intelligence agencies, remain undisclosed due to national security concerns, complicating the quantification of the international market.
Nevertheless, disclosed contracts suggest that the scale of international business for U.S. firms represents hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
Export controls and technology transfer restrictions further dictate how American companies can interact with international clients.
These firms are required to navigate domestic regulatory challenges while addressing foreign customers’ demands for genuine sovereign capabilities.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has served as a significant turning point, illustrating the military utility of commercial satellite imagery.
The war has accelerated international interest in commercial capabilities, reinforcing the need for real-time battlefield intelligence from civilian space assets.
The commercial satellite industry has witnessed dramatic advancements over the past decade.
What previously required billion-dollar government investments and extensive development can now be accomplished with relatively small financial commitments and readily available technology.
This shift has opened doors for nations that historically lacked resources or expertise to cultivate space-based intelligence capabilities.
Maxar Intelligence recently completed the deployment of its WorldView Legion—a six-satellite high-resolution imaging constellation.
Offering dedicated capacity packages, this system enables foreign governments to manage satellite tasking without needing to invest in building or maintaining infrastructures.
Anders Linder, who leads Maxar’s international government operations from London, states, “It’s like having a sovereign capability.”
Customers can purchase antennas, reserve time on Maxar satellites, and direct imagery collection, making it a simpler and more economical option than constructing and operating a satellite constellation.
To bolster its global presence, Maxar has enlisted advisers, including retired U.K. Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach and Tadashi Miyagawa, the former head of Japan’s defense intelligence agency.
The company now maintains personnel in various countries, including London, Singapore, Sweden, India, and Japan, with future expansion plans for the Middle East.
Maxar has recently signed agreements with Sweden’s largest defense contractor, Saab, to create geospatial intelligence products.
In December 2024, Maxar secured $35 million in tasking contracts with two unnamed Asia-Pacific governments, allowing them direct access to WorldView Legion and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery from Umbra Space.
In January 2025, Maxar announced a $14 million deal with the Netherlands Ministry of Defense for on-demand imagery supporting intelligence, mapping, and military operations.
Moreover, demand for satellite data has extended into civilian applications.
In a recent partnership with a southern Asian country, Maxar’s imagery was used for land surveillance to verify land use and enforce tax compliance.
Linder notes, “Europe is now catching up to be at the same level as the Middle East and Asia Pacific” in terms of global appetite for satellite imaging.
Consequently, nations with limited space capabilities are increasingly signing contracts based on intelligence-as-a-service models.
Brian O’Toole, CEO of BlackSky, emphasized during a recent earnings call that many of these agreements are long-term, providing the predictable revenue necessary for satellite companies to reassure investors and stakeholders.
BlackSky recently inked a $100 million, seven-year subscription contract with an undisclosed foreign government, along with nearly $20 million in multi-year agreements supporting India’s commercial Earth observation ambitions.
The company specializes in real-time imagery and analytics and has collaborated with Thales Alenia Space to construct a high-resolution optical satellite for India’s Nibe Ltd., a significant defense contractor.
This satellite will act as the cornerstone of what is anticipated to become a constellation catering to Indian national security needs.
The BlackSky-Thales Alenia partnership in India follows a similar $50 million agreement with the Republic of Indonesia, with O’Toole stating, “International opportunities today are tremendous.
U.S. companies are helping our allies accelerate their capabilities.”
Planet Labs is also charting a similar course, utilizing its fleet of over 200 satellites providing daily global imaging while pursuing international business avenues.
In January, Planet signed a significant $230 million, seven-year agreement with an unnamed Asia-Pacific customer for the development of high-resolution satellites and commercial imagery.
The German government recently entered into a seven-figure deal with Planet for access to its complete array of geospatial products for purposes including environmental monitoring, land-use oversight, and socioeconomic research.
Further underscoring this trend, SAR satellites complement optical satellites by being able to capture images in adverse weather and at night.
Frank Backes, CEO of Capella Space—a SAR company recently acquired by IonQ—highlighted the increasing global demand for SAR capabilities.
Backes shared that Japan is now Capella’s second-largest government customer, trailing only the U.S.
The company is also discussing potential collaborations with the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates to provide SAR satellites for independent operation.
Backes notes, “Sovereign control can mean different things to different countries, with many seeking priority access.”
One of Capella’s main competitors in the SAR market is Finnish firm Iceye, which has a U.S. subsidiary and is expanding globally in response to the surge in demand for sovereign Earth observation systems.
Iceye recently signed a $200 million contract to deliver three SAR satellites to Poland and has partnered with Germany’s Rheinmetall to form a joint venture for satellite manufacturing.
In Japan, Iceye is collaborating with IHI Corp. to construct a 24-satellite SAR constellation and establish a domestic production facility.
The company has also opened a new office and production line in Athens, Greece.
Many executives attribute their current success to the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has changed the delivery timelines for satellite imagery.
Maxar CEO Dan Smoot remarked at the GEOINT Symposium, “We’ve gone from a world where it took hours to deliver information to minutes.”
The conflict has highlighted the advantages of commercial satellite solutions, which can offer on-demand tasking, constant updates, and nearly global coverage.
Smoot continues, “What we are seeing now is a speed to adoption in the international market that’s accelerating like I’ve ever seen.
There’s been a major shift due to some recent policies that have facilitated the opening of international markets.”
The rise in commercial satellite sovereignty represents a transformation in global intelligence dynamics.
Where once advanced intelligence was the exclusive realm of superpowers, it is now accessible—on-demand—to countries of various sizes thanks to innovations in the commercial space sector, primarily led by U.S. firms.
Gauthier encapsulates this market scenario by stating, “There’s a much more favorable market for U.S. commercial firms.
Many countries don’t have established defense industries working on space programs, so they are inclined to procure the best commercial capabilities available.”
The combination of lower launch costs, smaller satellite capabilities, and increasing geopolitical tensions points towards the conclusion that the trend of international growth is not a temporary phenomenon but is expected to continue well into the future.
In May, executives from the industry and government informed SpaceNews that the National Reconnaissance Office has signaled its intention to reduce imagery company contracts by 30% this year, translating to a $130 million cut.
With U.S. government spending being constrained, American firms are left with little choice but to lean on foreign contracts to provide consistent, long-term revenue necessary to meet investor expectations.
image source from：https://spacenews.com/as-foreign-nations-look-forsovereign-eyes-in-the-skyu-s-satellite-firms-focus-abroad/
