Umbra Space announced on December 4th a contract extension with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). This California-based startup, specializing in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite technology, has been collaborating with the NRO since 2022 through the Strategic Commercial Enhancements initiative.
Joe Morrison, Umbra’s vice president of remote sensing, stated the extension provides continued opportunities to showcase their technology and tailor their services to government requirements. Financial details of the contract remain confidential.
Unlike conventional optical imaging satellites, SAR’s ability to penetrate clouds and capture high-resolution images regardless of weather or time of day is highly valuable. Applications include environmental monitoring, disaster response, maritime surveillance, and intelligence gathering.
Umbra presently operates five spacecraft, with additional units under production. Morrison highlighted the company's strategy of targeting both government and commercial sectors, developing satellites for its own constellation and international government clients.
In 2022, Umbra was among several SAR imaging companies chosen by the NRO for study contracts. Success in these cooperative agreements positions them for the upcoming “Commercial Radar Layer” program, a multi-year initiative similar to the Electro Optical Commercial Layer program, which awarded contracts to three firms in 2022.
The NRO’s Commercial Systems Program Office plays a key role in integrating private-sector technology into national security. “The beautiful thing about the NRO is that they’re incredibly meritocratic,” Morrison said. “They don’t reward bluster or marketing. They reward performance.”
Morrison praised the NRO’s guidance in helping commercial companies navigate government market complexities. “If you can go in humbly and ask, ‘What do you need?’ they will tell you exactly what they need to see.”
Under the NRO’s Strategic Commercial Enhancements initiative, Umbra also provides radio frequency (RF) data from its SAR satellites for locating and tracking electronic emissions.