HawkEye 360, a subsidiary of Allied Minds and Lockheed Martin are collaborating to introduce the HawkEye 360’s radio frequency (RF) detection and mapping technology in to new markets. HawkEye 360 plans to deploy a constellation of small satellites in the low-Earth orbit at less than 600 km (383 miles) from the Earth’s surface, to identify, locate and analyze RF signals globally. Pending various regulatory approvals of this system and its capabilities, they will work to apply the space-based RF data and analytics capabilities in new mission solutions, potentially extending the adoption of this technology across multiple customer segments and new markets.
Lockheed Martin has chosen Allied Minds to build one of the world’s first privately funded global RF signal monitoring systems. Combining Lockheed Martin’s expertise in satellite systems with HawkEye 360’s approach to space-based radio frequency detection will enable them to develop an innovative solution to some of the big challenges being faced by their shared customer base.
Their envisioned constellation, once operational, could enable significant commercial applications such as allowing government and corporate customers to dynamically monitor transportation networks across air, land and sea. For government regulators, telecommunications companies and satellite broadcasters, this system is being designed to monitor RF spectrum usage to identify areas of interference. The envisioned system could also be used to play a crucial role in the detection and location of activated emergency beacons, improving response times that are critical in life-threatening scenarios.
HawkEye 360’s technology complements Lockheed Martin’s leading expertise in this field. In the past 50 years, Lockheed Martin has built over 800 satellites and 310 payloads and extends their experience through the RF Payload Center of Excellence, which collocates RF development, assembly and test for a variety of spacecraft types, from cubesats to human spaceflight.
