NRO overhauls satellite data contracts with long-term industry deals

The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) is changing how it buys commercial satellite data. For years, the agency has relied on short-term deals under its SCE Broad Area Announcement programme. Now, it is shifting to a new system that promises longer contracts and more stability for industry partners.

Four companies—HawkEye 360, Capella Space, ICEYE US, and Umbra—have just received contract extensions while this transition takes place. The NRO first awarded contracts to three of these firms in January 2022. Umbra, ICEYE US, and Capella Space secured deals for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. HawkEye 360 followed later that year, providing radio frequency (RF) geolocation services under the same programme.

Since 2022, these contracts have operated on a short-term basis. The latest extensions vary in length: HawkEye 360 gained an extra 23 months, while the other three received 15.5-month prolongations. The NRO currently works with 11 commercial providers, covering a range of data types from electro-optical (EO) imaging to radar and hyperspectral sensing.

In July 2023, the agency took a step toward a more permanent solution. It issued a request for proposals under a new scheme called the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO). Unlike the old approach, the CSO offers a five-year revolving window for unsolicited bids. This allows companies to compete for longer-term funding across multiple sensing technologies, including EO, radar, RF, hyperspectral, and LIDAR.

The move follows years of lobbying from commercial remote sensing providers. Many have pushed for a more formal, stable contracting process rather than relying on repeated short-term agreements. The NRO’s shift to the CSO programme aims to provide industry with more predictable funding. Eleven companies currently supply data under existing contracts, but future deals will now follow a structured, long-term model. The change reflects growing demand for reliable commercial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.