WASHINGTON — BlackSky, an Earth observation and data analytics firm, will provide satellite imagery services and imaging spacecraft to the Republic of Indonesia under a $50 million deal announced Feb. 8.
BlackSky will work with Thales Alenia Space to establish the building blocks of a sovereign Earth imaging satellite network tailored to Indonesia’s national security needs.
Thales Alenia Space was selected in December to deliver a dedicated Earth observation constellation to the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, combining both radar and optical sensors.
Under the multi-year agreement, Jakarta will gain access to BlackSky’s high-revisit imagery and analytics and will own two of BlackSky’s next-generation Earth observation satellites. The satellites represent the beginning of a future constellation that could include a mix of imaging satellites provided by BlackSky and others built by Thales Alenia.
BlackSky operates a constellation of 16 electro-optical imaging satellites.
Thales Alenia Space and BlackSky will work under contract to PT Len Industri, Indonesia’s state-owned defense company, which selected the European firm to construct the satellite system.
Agreement bundles services and hardware
BlackSky under a separate contract from PT Len is supplying Indonesia’s MoD imagery and analytics services. The new agreement bundles services, hardware and ground-systems software.
Thales Alenia Space — a joint venture between the French technology firm Thales Group and Italian defense conglomerate Leonardo — was an early investor in BlackSky. Thales Alenia and BlackSky are co-owners of LeoStella, a satellite manufacturer based in Seattle that produces spacecraft for BlackSky and other customers.
Brian O’Toole, CEO of BlackSky, characterized the partnership with Indonesia as a model for how governments can harness commercial innovation rather than spend billions of dollars and decades developing indigenous…
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