BlackSky

The Tech Times
Startup Wyvern hires GEOINT vets, Meta engages privacy lobbyists, Braccioli takes DigitalPlatforms to UAE, NATO's OSINT platform tender

Whether in SIGINT, GEOINT, OSINT or cyber, we report each week on developments great and small in the world of technical intelligence providers.

Edmonton Canada's Wyvern appoints two US vice-presidents

Washington Meta hires specialist lobbyists for crusade against OSINT

Dubai Former Area VP Braccioli takes DigitalPlatforms to UAE

Brussels NATO issues tender for OSINT early warning platform

The Tech Times
Belgian SIGINT, Luc Majdalani at BlackSky, Tadaweb supported by Nancy Clark in Canada

From SIGINT to GEOINT and OSINT and a dose of cyber, each Thursday, we report on events both big and small that matter in the community of technical intelligence providers.

BrusselsBelgian army pursues SIGINT upgrades

DubaiLuc Majdalani takes over BlackSky's business development in Golf

OttawaEx-diplomat Nancy Clark joins European OSINT provider Tadaweb

United States
Razor's Edge gains firmer foothold in US intelligence

The investment fund is continuing its shopping spree among companies seeking to break into the US intelligence sector. Its former protégé, BlackHorse Solutions, has just won a major contract on the DARPA programme to improve penetration testing.

UAE, United States
US interceptor satellite specialist HawkEye strengthens foothold in UAE

Tawazun, the United Arab Emirates' defence and security industry development arm, is among the many investors in HawkEye 360's latest funding round, in a sign that the US company, which specialises in the interception of radio frequency signals from space, is gaining ground in the Emirates.

United States
NGA moves into economic intelligence gathering

After two years of planning at the Fort Belvoir Springfield headquarters of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), GEOINT-based economic analysis is now becoming part of the agency's armoury and its spending programme.

Spotlight | United States
Congress looks to streamline intelligence agencies' satellite imagery procurements

Commercially-available spatial imaging solutions are becoming vital to the government's geospatial intelligence operations, but there is widespread confusion in the way these tools are being acquired. Congress wants clarity on the situation.

United States
Planet's SPAC deal reveals the scale of the challenges it faces

By using a SPAC to obtain a stock exchange listing, US New Space GEOINT pioneer Planet, had to release information which shows the scale of the financial and industrial challenges which still lie ahead of it.

United States
Awaiting listing after merger, BlackSky's fate relies on major contracts with NRO and NGA

GEOINT specialist BlackSky's merger with Osprey to go public, a decision strongly backed by Peter Thiel, shows the operators are willing to change business model in order to win major contracts with US intelligence services.

United States
NGA eyes new pool of GEOINT vendors as it ramps up commercial acquisitions

The agency wants to support US geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) start-ups but is also increasingly considering European firms.

France
Finance ministry and Brienne clash over economic sovereignty

The France Digitale Day event held in Paris on September 18 highlighted a manifest discrepancy between how the country's ministry of economy and its ministry of defence view economic sovereignty.

United States
Razor's Edge brings niche startups closer to the intelligence community

Chaired by Joseph Cofer Black, the former head of the CIA's Counterterrorism Center, the venture capital firm Razor's Edge Ventures has invested in a number of SIGINT and cyber defence startups.

Spotlight | France
New Space revolution a blow to French GEOINT companies

The shake-up of the satellite imagery market that started in the US is making its effects felt on the French Geospatial-Intelligence (GEOINT) sector.

Europe, United States
Sale of DigitalGlobe may cool GEOINT speculation

Canada's MDA is struggling to finalise its acquisition of DigitalGlobe while funds have also dried up for new companies in the GEOINT sector, suggesting a slowdown in what used to be a feverish marketplace.

United States
Planet ever closer to the NGA

The geospatial intelligence startup has been contracted to supply US intelligence with imagery from Syria and Iraq, Iran and North Korea.

United States
Peter Thiel has big GEOINT 2.0 plans

The Silicon Valley billionaire and Donald Trump supporter has been advancing his pawns in the low-cost observation satellite business.

United States
Google takes on NGA in GEOINT

Relations between internet giant Google and the US geospatial intelligence agency are getting tense (IOL 728) at a time when the sector is undergoing major change.