10 February 2026 of the National Intelligence Service (NRO), which projects, builds and operates a fleet of United States reconnaissance satellites, announced the signing of an agreement on strategic commercial improvements (SCE) with HEO companies, SatVu ta Sierra Nevada Corp.
For reference: HEO is an Australian startup, which uses space sensors to survey and photograph satellites and other objects in orbit. The British company SatVu operates thermal imaging satellites, that detect thermal signatures from the Earth's surface. Sierra Nevada is an aerospace and defense contractor, who leads the group, which collects data on radio frequency radiation.
As part of the agreement, HEO will provide images of objects in orbit, SatVu is an image in the mid-wave infrared range, and Sierra Nevada - radio frequency sounding data. The SCE program is designed to do just that, so that the NRO can evaluate commercially generated data and determine ways to integrate it into intelligence operations, Observation and reconnaissance. Instead of immediately entering into long-term contracts to buy data, the agency will use new capabilities to test performance, utility and scalability of various sensor technologies.
If budget funds are available, the NRO plans to sign additional agreements later this year, to expand access to data, collected using different probing modes, such as optical, radar, infrared and radio frequency. In the words of the NRO director, management "is always looking for innovative ways to attract new partners, as it helps ensure access to the latest technology to advance the mission.”.
Source: https://spacenews.com