The global race to supply government organizations with commercial satellite imagery is gaining momentum, as defense agencies seek faster and more reliable access
to the data, reserved for intelligence services. Against this background, the Finnish radar surveying company ICEYE has introduced a service, which guarantees customers priority use of orbital sensors.
Last week ICEYE announced a new “Tactical Access” service, which offers subscribers on-demand shooting with synthetic aperture satellites (SAR), enabling image capture anywhere, anytime. This model contrasts
with a traditional approach, when operators queue up shooting requests from many clients. The capabilities of the company's satellites increase their value in conflict zones or during disasters. The new subscription-based service is aimed at agencies and organizations with high needs
in images and short decision-making terms. Customers can optionally install a ground station for direct data reception, thanks to which the sending of pictures will take place within a "minute".
The creation of a new approach is due to the growing demand of governments for guaranteed satellite intelligence in the conditions of military operations in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as rising tensions in East Asia. Governments increasingly rely on commercial providers for intelligence capabilities, which can be deployed faster and at lower costs, than national systems. A representative of the American subsidiary company Iceye noted, that they are currently working with US government partners to adapt the service for US defense and intelligence missions.
Source: https://spacenews.com