WASHINGTON — Maxar Intelligence announced an agreement with Sweden’s aerospace firm Saab to develop battlefield intelligence products that use satellite data, including Maxar’s new terrain-based navigation technology that allows drones to operate without access to GPS.
Under the agreement, Saab will leverage Maxar’s geospatial intelligence products for defense applications. Geospatial intelligence refers to information derived from analyzing satellite imagery and geographic data, often used by militaries to understand terrain, track movements, and plan operations.
The deal gives Saab access to Maxar’s satellite imagery, 3D data, technical expertise and Maxar’s Raptor — a visual-based navigation technology that serves as a proxy for GPS.
The terrain-based positioning system for drones uses detailed 3D models created from Maxar’s satellite imagery. Instead of using satellite signals, a drone equipped with Raptor compares its real-time camera feed with a pre-existing 3D terrain model to determine its position and orientation.
Dan Smoot, CEO of Maxar Intelligence, said June 4 in a news release that the partnership with Saab is another example of the company’s push in the international market as customers seek sovereign space-based capabilities for national defense.
Sovereign defense capabilities refers to a country’s ability to produce and control its own military technology rather than relying on foreign suppliers, a priority for many nations amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Saab tested the Raptor technology in recent military exercises. “Our collaboration with Maxar represents a significant leap forward in our commitment to use information from the space domain,” said Görgen Johansson, head of Saab’s Dynamics business.
Saab developed autonomous drone technology with the goal of deploying AI-powered drone swarms that can be controlled by a single operator. Drone swarms involve multiple unmanned aircraft working together as a coordinated unit, potentially overwhelming enemy defenses through sheer numbers. Saab said this technology is at the forefront of Sweden’s defense modernization.
Sweden, like other NATO allies, is seeking to bolster its defense technology amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has extensively used drones for reconnaissance and attacks.
Maxar Intelligence, based in Westminster, Colorado, provides satellite imagery and geospatial data to government and commercial customers. Saab, headquartered in Stockholm, is one of Europe’s leading defense contractors, producing everything from fighter jets to missile systems.
