Anduril Industries said, that plans to acquire ExoAnalytic Solutions — a company, which operates one of the world's largest commercial networks of telescopes for tracking satellites and space debris. The move extends the defense technology firm's push into national security programs in space.
For reference: Anduril Industries is a leading American defense technology company, which specializes in creating autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced defense software. It is known for its drones, anti-drone systems, missile technologies and the Lattice control platform.
ExoAnalytic manages approx 400 terrestrial optical telescopes, which monitor objects in orbit and provide data to the US government for space situational awareness and missile defense missions. Its systems generate billions of observations, which are used to track the maneuvers of satellites, anomaly detection and monitoring of the growing number of spacecraft and debris in orbit.
For Anduril, the acquisition aims to strengthen its ability to integrate space data into defense systems. Once regulatory approvals are complete, ExoAnalytic will be integrated into Anduril's aerospace and engineering division. The acquisition will accelerate Anduril's work in support of national security customers in space. The ExoAnalytic network produces optical observations, which can complement satellite sensors, helping to identify and track objects in space and detect unusual behavior. The company claims, that its data can support the Golden Dome missile defense architecture, proposed by the Trump administration, which relies on multiple layers of sensors to track missiles throughout flight. Ground-based optical observations can fill gaps in coverage and provide additional data for discrimination and guidance.
Anduril's interest in this area is linked to a broader effort to create integrated surveillance and command and control systems. The company's flagship product, Lattice, is a software platform, designed to combine data from radars, drones, ground sensors and satellites into a single operational picture for military users. Space observation data fit perfectly into this approach, providing information on satellite movements and other orbital activity, which can feed into missile warning systems, threat assessment and targeting.
Another motive behind the deal is Anduril's own plans to operate spacecraft. The company plans to launch three self-funded space missions over the next year to demonstrate its surveillance capabilities, maneuvering and data processing on board. One mission involves a partnership with Argo Space — the flight of Anduril sensors and computing equipment on a maneuverable spacecraft, intended for testing space situation awareness and autonomous processing during dynamic orbital maneuvers. A second mission from Impulse Space will send the Anduril infrared sensor and mission processor into geosynchronous orbit on the space tug Mira to demonstrate approach and near-satellite operations on GEO. The third project involves placing Anduril payloads on small satellite platforms, created by manufacturers, such as Apex, to support future defense groups, task-oriented, including satellite tracking and missile warning.
Source: https://spacenews.com