HawkEye 360 demonstrates RF sensing of satellites from orbit
HawkEye 360 says it validated detecting RF signals from other satellites in LEO, MEO and GEO under an AFRL-funded demo.
what happened
HawkEye 360 released a whitepaper detailing results from a roughly $1.2 million Air Force Research Laboratory Phase II SBIR awarded in 2024, demonstrating that its RF-sensing satellites can detect, identify and characterize RF signals emitted by other satellites in LEO, MEO and GEO. COO Todd Probert told Payload via email that a space-based RF sensor can access signals and geometries a ground sensor cannot, including whether a target satellite is transmitting, communicating with a particular ground station, or altering its usual behavior.
why it matters
The result gives HawkEye 360 a demonstrated technical path from its existing RF-sensing business into commercial space domain awareness, a market the DoD is funding as satellite traffic grows. For RF-sensing competitors and SDA data buyers, it signals an established EO/RF provider can extend its sensors to characterize other spacecraft's behavior, not just terrestrial signals, without launching new satellites.
for who
Space domain awareness buyers and RF-sensing competitors
signal-to-noise
quick facts
- Companies
- HawkEye 360
- Category
- product
- Impact
- notable
- SNR
- 3 / 5
- Event date
- 2026-10-06
- Published
- 2026-10-06 13:54 UTC