BlackSky named exclusive VHR provider for $1bn AI-enabled satellite constellation

BlackSky Global has been named the exclusive provider of very-high-resolution optical satellites for what its backers call the world's first AI-enabled satellite constellation, a $1bn initiative unveiled on 9 September 2026 at the inaugural International Space Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris.

The planned constellation will comprise 50 satellites carrying radar, optical and other sensors, serving users in France, the wider Europe and the UAE, with the consortium promising data processing and alerts within seconds. BlackSky's Gen-3 satellites — which capture 35cm imagery at sub-hourly revisit rates — will supply the high-resolution imaging layer as part of the company's Mission Solutions strategy. The consortium is led by UAE-based Marlan Space alongside satellite manufacturer Loft Orbital and French AI firm Mistral AI, plus other unnamed space companies in France and the UAE.

Herndon, Virginia-based BlackSky had four Gen-3 satellites in orbit as of its August 2026 earnings report and is separately developing a wider-area AROS satellite line, backed by a US National Reconnaissance Office contract, for a targeted 2028 launch. The consortium has not disclosed a launch timeline for the 50-satellite constellation or how the $1bn will be split; further details are expected later in 2026.

Read more: The Defence Blog