Maxar Intelligence has unveiled Sentry, a cutting-edge monitoring product designed to deliver actionable geospatial intelligence. This goes beyond simple satellite imagery, offering continuous surveillance across numerous global locations simultaneously.
“This type of geospatial intelligence would allow a customer to identify an imminent satellite launch before it happens or to estimate potential threats to energy infrastructure following a natural disaster,” explained Dan Smoot, CEO of Maxar Intelligence. This move positions Maxar to compete effectively in the high-value intelligence market as traditional satellite imagery becomes increasingly commonplace.
Sentry leverages Maxar's extensive archive of over 250 petabytes of high-resolution satellite imagery, using AI to compare current observations with historical data, identifying anomalies. The platform integrates data from Maxar's satellites and partner constellations, including electro-optical and SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellites.
Applications for Sentry are diverse, ranging from energy security and global trade monitoring to combating the narcotics trade. Peter Wilczynski, chief product officer at Maxar Intelligence, highlighted tracking fentanyl precursors entering the United States as an example. Government agencies can direct monitoring of specific locations, with the system automatically flagging unusual activity.
Users can customize data collection frequency (daily, weekly, or monthly), allowing for tailored insights. “So that you can start understanding the movement of material and the patterns of activity over time,” Wilczynski noted. Maxar is also forging partnerships with Earth intelligence platforms to broaden access to its data.
Maxar's collaboration with SkyWatch and the recently announced partnership with SkyFi exemplify this trend, providing access to Maxar's high-resolution imagery and historical archives. These partnerships reflect the industry shift towards analytical capabilities over raw data.
The technology powering Sentry is already utilized in projects supporting U.S. intelligence and defense missions via the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency's (NGA) Luno program. Maxar secured a task order under Luno A for “rapid identification of aircraft, ships, vehicles and railcars, object counts and classification,” focusing on “laying the groundwork for identifying trends and anomalies.”
The Luno program represents a shift in how intelligence agencies interact with the private sector. Instead of just buying imagery, the NGA requests analytical reports, creating new opportunities for companies like Maxar and competitors such as BlackSky.