The U.S. National Reconnaissance Office has awarded new contracts to Capella Space, ICEYE US and Umbra for the delivery of data collected by synthetic aperture radar satellites.
The agency described the agreements as an important step toward integrating commercial data with intelligence gathered by its own reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence satellites.
The contracts include an initial one-year performance period running from August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027. They also include two optional follow-on years that could extend the arrangements through July 31, 2029. The value of the awards was not disclosed because the NRO’s budget is classified.
Moving from studies to operational data delivery
The new agreements are being managed by the NRO office responsible for commercial space programs. They are intended to enable a rapid transition from study contracts to a new contracting framework known as Radar Commercial Augmentation, or RCA.
The agency said the RCA framework is based on rigorous operational requirements and gives the three companies an expanded role in the sustained delivery of radar data to government users.
The agreements build on contracts awarded last December under the Commercial Radar Capabilities program. The earlier contracts are not being replaced; instead, the new arrangements represent the next stage after the companies successfully completed their initial contractual requirements.
Clearer performance requirements
Unlike the earlier efforts, which focused primarily on demonstrations and studies, the RCA contracts establish defined performance thresholds and continuous-improvement objectives.
The new approach is intended to better align the program with current government user requirements and with the technological maturity of the selected companies.
Umbra described the agreement as a firm, fixed-price, sole-source contract that converts the program into an operational capability following four years of studies and evaluations.
SAR satellites provide coverage in difficult conditions
Synthetic aperture radar satellites can collect imagery during both day and night and can operate through clouds and reduced visibility. These capabilities make them valuable for persistent monitoring of large areas and for rapidly detecting changes on the ground.
Combining commercial data with information collected by national satellites is expected to increase the volume, flexibility and frequency of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance coverage.
A larger role for the commercial space sector
Through the new contracts, the NRO aims to capitalize on the rapid pace of innovation in the commercial space industry. Private companies can deploy and upgrade satellite constellations more quickly than traditional government programs, providing additional data without requiring the agency to develop every capability independently.
ICEYE US said the new awards are specifically focused on expanding government access to commercial radar capabilities and ensuring that the technology can meet operational mission requirements.
By combining commercial satellites with national systems, the NRO intends to achieve faster, more persistent and more flexible global coverage.
