BlackSky Technology has secured the next phase of a competitive research contract from the US Navy for the advancement of optical inter-satellite link (OISL) terminal technology for its Gen-3 imaging satellite constellation.
The initial contract, won by BlackSky in September 2024, aims to provide warfighters with instantaneous access to high-resolution imagery and vital information during urgent military operations across the globe.
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The initiative contributes to the US Navy’s Project Overmatch and aligns with the Department of Defense’s Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) objectives.
The development of OISL terminals is anticipated to expedite the transfer of large volumes of space-based data, including very high-resolution imagery, directly between satellites prior to being relayed to ground stations.
BlackSky CEO Brian O’Toole stated: “This important award directly supports BlackSky’s ability to deliver timely, high-impact intelligence that drives decisions all the way to the tactical edges of the frontline.
“High-speed inter-satellite communication links are a critical innovation that makes BlackSky’s commercial remote sensing services a robust and viable option for fleet-wide tactical ISR operations.”
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By GlobalDataUnder the terms of the development agreement, BlackSky will investigate potential hardware and software design modifications, and operational concepts for commercial transport network nodes, and establish new protocols for efficient data movement.
The Gen-3 satellites equipped with these advanced OISL terminals will be compatible with the Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer and commercial transport networks.
“Extending our Gen-3 capabilities with optical intersatellite link terminals will give customers reliable access to real-time earth imaging capabilities across the full range of warfighting scenarios. Enhanced Gen-3 satellites are expected to deliver data to end users 10 times faster than current systems, with data volumes five times greater than existing capabilities,” O’Toole added.
BlackSky aims to place eight Gen-3 satellites on orbit by early 2026.
Laser-based OISL technology enables high-bandwidth, direct communication lines between satellites.
This reduces data transmission and processing time but also offers reduced latency in decision-making.
Moreover, OISLs are expected to provide a more secure and resilient path for data transmission, which is less vulnerable to interference and jamming.
