SpaceX is constructing a network of hundreds of spy satellites for a U.S. intelligence agency under a classified contract, according to five sources familiar with the program.
The revealed plans underscore SpaceX's significant involvement in U.S. intelligence and military initiatives and highlight the Pentagon's increased investment in extensive, low-Earth orbit satellite systems designed to bolster support for ground forces.
As per the sources, the network is being developed by SpaceX's Starshield business unit under a $1.8 billion contract signed in 2021 with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which is an intelligence agency responsible for managing spy satellites.
The NRO comprises personnel from the U.S. Space Force and CIA, and is responsible for supplying classified satellite imagery to the Pentagon and various other intelligence agencies.
The contract reflects a growing level of trust from the intelligence establishment toward SpaceX, despite conflicts between its owner and the Biden administration, as well as controversies surrounding the use of Starlink satellite connectivity in the Ukraine war, according to the sources.
If successful, the program is expected to greatly enhance the U.S. government and military's capability to rapidly identify potential targets across the globe.
The Wall Street Journal's report in February mentioned a $1.8 billion classified Starshield contract with an undisclosed intelligence agency, without specifying the program's purposes.
Reuters reporting now reveals that the SpaceX contract is for a robust new spy system comprising hundreds of satellites equipped with Earth-imaging capabilities, capable of operating as a swarm in low orbits.
The spy satellites will incorporate sensors provided by another company, as reported by three of the sources.
The NRO acknowledged in a statement its mission to develop a sophisticated satellite system, highlighting its partnerships with various research institutions, government agencies, companies, and nations.
The sources have indicated that these satellites have the capability to track targets on the ground and transmit that data to U.S. intelligence and military authorities. This capability theoretically allows the U.S. government to rapidly obtain continuous imagery of ground activities across almost any location worldwide, thereby supporting intelligence and military operations.
According to a U.S. government database of objects in orbit, there are several SpaceX missions that have deployed satellites which neither the company nor the government have publicly acknowledged. Two sources have confirmed that these satellites are Starshield network prototypes.
The Pentagon is already a significant customer of SpaceX, employing its Falcon 9 rockets to launch military payloads into space. The first prototype satellite for Starshield, launched in 2020, was reportedly part of a separate contract valued at approximately $200 million. This contract played a role in positioning SpaceX for the subsequent $1.8 billion award, according to one of the sources.
The classified constellation of spy satellites represents one of the most coveted capabilities of the U.S. government in space, as it is intended to provide the most persistent, pervasive, and rapid coverage of activities on Earth.
One of the sources described the system's potential capability by saying, ‘No one can hide,' emphasizing the extensive reach of the network.
All sources requested anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the program.
