A recent assessment of global commercial remote sensing satellite systems indicates that Chinese firms are surpassing U.S. competitors in various sensor technologies. The study, framed as a mock Olympic Games, ranks the world’s top commercial space-based remote sensing systems for 2024, awarding China the “gold medal” in five categories, while the U.S. secured four, alongside one gold each for companies from Finland and South Korea.

The report, titled “Gold Rush: The 2024 Commercial Remote Sensing Global Rankings,” was released by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Taylor Geospatial Institute, Taylor Geospatial Engine, and the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation. The findings highlight the ongoing advancement of China’s remote sensing capabilities and its growing commercial space sector.

According to Robert Cardillo, former director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), who spoke during a CSIS seminar unveiling the report, “We’re in a competition. It’s not a secret… state competitors are going to use everything at their disposal to create an advantage.” He emphasized the implications of the report, underscoring the importance of recognizing the strategic landscape in which these advancements occur.

The report’s authors—Kari Bingen, director of the Aerospace Security Project; Dave Gauthier, senior associate and former head of NGA Commercial and Business Operations; and Madeleine Chang, Horizon Fellow at the Aerospace Security Project—warn of the stakes involved in the commercial remote sensing market. “Should any one country dominate… it would control the information narrative about the entire planet,” they cautioned.

To assess capabilities, the authors utilized 11 performance categories based on publicly available information, evaluating various sensor technologies such as electro-optical (EO), synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and infrared (IR) sensors. Key parameters included spatial and spectral resolution, operational satellite numbers, and imaging persistence.

The research builds on a 2021 “Commercial Imaging Olympics” study by the NGA. In that prior assessment, China and the U.S. equally split the awards, each claiming three gold medals. The earlier study prompted the U.S. Intelligence Community to seek foreign satellite imagery to complement U.S. systems, enhancing the capabilities provided by the National Reconnaissance Office and domestic commercial partners.

Notably, the 2024 study reveals a rapid evolution in remote sensing technology, with nearly half of the top systems launched between 2021 and 2024, indicating a vibrant commercial marketplace characterized by swift advancements.

To bolster U.S. competitiveness in this domain, the report suggests that the U.S. government should act as a regulator, investor, and customer. It emphasizes the need for a strategic and proactive approach to developing commercial remote sensing capabilities in response to the challenges posed by Chinese advancements. Recommendations include creating multi-year budget profiles for commercial remote sensing, harmonizing public and private investment, aligning support from government branches, and reforming export policies.

During the CSIS event, Sue Gordon, former principal deputy director of national intelligence, urged national security leaders to leverage commercial capabilities to maintain an edge over adversaries. “You can only get to the future if you let go of something that you have always believed in,” she stated, advocating for a shift in mindset to better adapt to the rapidly evolving landscape of remote sensing technologies.

As the competition in commercial remote sensing escalates, U.S. leaders are challenged to rethink their strategies and embrace innovative approaches to ensure national security and technological superiority in the space domain.

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