Vantor Signs Deal With BAE Systems to Build Next-Gen Imaging Satellites

Vantor signed an agreement with BAE Systems on June 24 for the British firm to manufacture the first two of its next-generation Vantage electro-optical imaging satellites. The satellites will provide 20-centimeter resolution imagery. The contract marks the latest step in Vantor’s effort to expand beyond its prior role as a satellite imagery provider.

Vantor has completed two defense-focused deals with European partners in the past month. Officials said the company’s international revenue now splits roughly 70 percent defense and 30 percent civil. CEO Dan Smoot stated that U.S. policy changes over the last 16 months have prompted allies to increase spending on their own geospatial capabilities.

Smoot noted a previous “massive gap” in allied understanding of geospatial intelligence value because the U.S. had supplied much of that data for years. Domestic operations continue to serve both national security and non-defense government customers, including disaster-response agencies.

>"We’ve seen the geopolitical shift in the marketplace dramatically change in the last 16 months, and that has been based on a lot of the US position in regards to intelligence sharing and/or capability sharing, and really asking the world to invest more as a percentage of GDP on their own capabilities.