Billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX "encroaches" on intelligence surveillance services?

Billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX is said to have partnered with US aerospace and defense giant Northrop Grumman on a project for a secret spy satellite network to capture detailed images of Earth, The Independent reported on April 19.

The British newspaper quoted Reuters - the first unit to report on this secret project - saying that the project aims to improve the US government's ability to track military and intelligence targets from low Earth orbit.

The network's imaging capabilities are said to be superior to most existing US government spy systems. Once fully deployed, the network will be equipped with a variety of sensors, including optical and radar technology, Reuters sources said.

The system also includes relay satellites that can transmit images and other data over the network. The project is also expected to reduce risks associated with reconnaissance imagery collected by US aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in conflict zones.

The involvement of Northrop Grumman – one of the world’s largest weapons manufacturers and military technology suppliers – is said to be aimed at ensuring that control of the highly sensitive project is not given to a single contractor. However, it is unclear whether other contractors will be involved in the project, or if more will be added later, Reuters reported.

Technology - Billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX — Billionaire Elon Musk, boss of SpaceX Corporation, is seen on November 1, 2023. Photo: Getty Images

In March, Reuters reported that the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) awarded SpaceX a $1.8 billion contract in 2021 for the secretive project, which will deploy a planned network of hundreds of satellites.

So far, South African-born billionaire Elon Musk's company has rolled out about a dozen prototypes and is providing test images to the NRO. The image collection has not been previously reported.

Northrop Grumman is said to be supplying sensors for some of SpaceX's satellites and will test those satellites at its own facilities before they launch, Reuters reported.

At least 50 SpaceX satellites are expected to arrive at Northrop Grumman facilities for procedures including testing and sensor installation in the coming years, a source said.

In a statement, an NRO spokesperson said the agency “always works with a diverse group of partners to provide the most capable, diverse and flexible space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.”

The spokesperson would not comment further on the specifics of the satellite network or identify any other companies that might be involved. The Independent has reached out to SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for comment.

For SpaceX, known for its ability to quickly and successfully launch reusable rockets and commercial internet satellites, the project is the company's first known foray into intelligence surveillance services.

Since SpaceX began operations more than two decades ago, billionaire Musk and other company officials have resisted working with established aerospace and defense contractors, many of whom they have criticized as bureaucratic and slow .

Minh Duc (According to The Independent, Reuters)

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