Space Based ISR for Anti-Access Area Denial Environments

There is a growing need for ISR capabilities that can operate in Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/D2) environments that can support security operations in the Gray-zone of conflict that exist below the threshold of typical military operations. Warfighters are not receiving motion target indicator (MTI) information to meet their operational demand. While airborne platforms are typically used to meet the SMTI capability needs of combatant commands, denied environments where access is limited by sophisticated Integrated Air Defenses Systems (IADS) impede warfighter access. A Hybrid Space Architecture (HSA) that employs options such as non-traditional sensors, data exploitation, and use of allied and commercial capabilities is critical. Spire Global (‘Spire’) is proposing to develop and deploy a multi-satellite, multi-phenomenology, ISR space mission that leverages Spire’s high-TRL satellite systems and Radio Frequency (RF) collection payloads paired with a COTS multi-spectral imaging system to deliver a signal geolocation data product with coherent imagery for enhanced situational awareness. The proposed system will be designed as a dedicated commercial testbed with AFRL payload tasking authority granted through Spire’s commercial APIs. The RF payloads will span frequencies ranges designed to target select signals of interest and will be tightly coupled with Spire’s Time & Frequency Reference System (TFRS) to enable RF signal detection and geolocation processing algorithms. The imaging payload will leverage a TRL-9 COTS multi-spectral imager to facilitate imagery collection of sufficient quality to drive further exploitation, specifically targeting the MTI and maritime MTI (MMTI) domains to address established warfighter needs. The spacecraft will be equipped with Spire’s TRL-9 GPU-based high-performance supercomputing module and RF-intersatellite links which will be leveraged to demonstrate on-orbit signal determination and RF geolocation demonstrations. Spire will deploy four (4) satellites that will be maintained in a designated formation to facilitate RF geolocation. This formation will be determined during the first phase of the program based on the results of a trade study that will evaluate RF geolocation performance and coverage over a range of signals and areas of interest. Spire will provision a commercial launch to insert the satellites into an orbital altitude of at least 450km with a target launch date approximately 18 months after contract execution. Spire will complete check-out and commissioning of the satellite and payload systems before turning over the system to AFRL to begin operations. Operations will be performed  through Spire’s Tasking API, with support provided through Spire's Operations Liaison for an operational period of performance of approximately 24 months. The complete payload design, manufacture, test, integration, launch, application development and on orbit services offering will be provided by Spire.