October 9, 2024
1 Solar System Way, Planet Earth, USA
Discovery

NGA hires 10 companies for $290 million satellite data analysis contract

WASHINGTON — The U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has selected 10 companies to compete for contracts worth up to $290 million over the next five years to provide commercial satellite imagery and data analysis, aimed at bolstering the government’s global intelligence and monitoring capabilities.

The agency announced on September 13 that the following providers will join the program known as Luno A:

  • Airbus USA Space and Defense
  • Booz Allen Hamilton
  • Black sky
  • Blue halo
  • CACI
  • Electromagnetic Systems Inc.
  • Maxar Intelligence
  • NV5 Geospatial
  • Royce Geospatial Consultants
  • Ursa Space Systems

These companies will compete for work orders under an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract structure.

NGA is a Department of Defense combat support agency that provides geospatial intelligence in support of national security. The agency plays a crucial role in the analysis and dissemination of information derived from satellite imagery and other geospatial data sources.

The Luno A initiative aims to leverage commercial data analytics and satellite imagery services to gather information on global economic and environmental activities, as well as foreign military capabilities.

“Luno A will provide users in the national security community with access to commercial data and analytical services that add new context to analytical assessments by characterizing aspects such as global economic, environmental and military activities,” the NGA said in a statement.

The agency added that Luno A will leverage commercial computer vision and industry AI to augment existing classified and unclassified geointelligence, integrating directly into government analyst workflows.

NGA officials emphasized that the Luno program aims to demonstrate a tangible commitment to commercial Earth observation services and points to the importance of private sector data and analysis in supporting U.S. intelligence and defense operations.

Sandra Erwin writes about military space programs, policy, technology, and the industry that supports this sector. She has covered the military, the Pentagon, Congress, and the defense industry for nearly two decades as editor of NDIA's National Defense Journal…

(tags to translate)GEOINT

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