SpaceX is reportedly constructing a community of spy satellites for US intelligence

SpaceX’s Starshield unit has had a categorized contract with the US Nationwide Reconnaissance Workplace (NRO) since 2021 to construct a community of “tons of” of spy satellites for the company, Reuters experiences as we speak, citing unnamed sources “accustomed to this system.”

A Wall Road Journal report in February listed a categorized $1.8 billion SpaceX contract with a then-unnamed authorities company. Now Reuters has connected a reputation, and that it’s to construct a community of “tons of of satellites bearing Earth-imaging capabilities that may function as a swarm in low orbits.”

The report didn’t say when the community might be operational or what different firms are concerned. It does point out {that a} US database of house objects lists satellites deployed by SpaceX that the corporate and authorities haven’t acknowledged and cites sources confirming these objects as Starshield prototypes.

In line with Reuters, if the NRO contract is a hit, it could “considerably advance the flexibility of the U.S. authorities and army to rapidly spot potential targets virtually wherever on the globe.

Whereas an NRO spokesperson reportedly declined to touch upon Reuters findings about SpaceX’s involvement, it confirmed to the outlet that it’s working to develop “essentially the most succesful, numerous, and resilient space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system the world has ever seen.”