Umbra to develop maritime surveillance satellites for U.S. military

COLORADO SPRINGS —  Umbra, a California-based manufacturer of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites, has been tapped to develop next-generation sensor satellites aimed at enhancing maritime and open-ocean search capabilities for the United States and its allies in the Indo-Pacific.The company was selected to develop these satellites under a public-private agreement known as Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) that could be valued at up to $60 million pending final contracting and co-investment commitments.“Through this program, Umbra plans to design, build and launch a next-generation constellation of spacecraft to demonstrate the advantages of comprehensive, wide-area SAR coverage for search and find missions in open ocean and maritime applications,” Umbra said in a statement.The project will receive government funding from multiple entities: the U.S. Space Force SpaceWERX organization, the Defense Innovation Unit, and the Space Development Agency. Private investors are expected to provide matching funds as part of the agreement’s structure.While the selection of Umbra for the STRATFI contract was initially announced on March 10, the company revealed on April 8 that the specific focus would be on maritime sensing satellites.SAR technologyUnlike optical cameras that require daylight and clear weather conditions, SAR systems can see through clouds, darkness, and adverse weather by emitting radar pulses and analyzing the reflected signals.This capability is particularly valuable for maritime surveillance, where vast ocean areas need constant monitoring regardless of weather conditions or time of day.The Indo-Pacific region has become increasingly important in U.S. defense strategy, with growing focus on monitoring shipping activities, detecting unauthorized vessels, and supporting search and rescue operations across its expansive maritime zones.