Umbra Selected by NRO for Second Phase of Commercial RF Study

Insider Brief:

• The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) has selected Umbra for the Stage II option of its Commercial RF Capabilities contract under the Strategic Commercial Enhancements (SCE) effort.
• The Stage II phase seeks to deliver RF products aimed at validating on-orbit performance while assessing mission utility and the seamless integration of U.S. domestic commercial RF capabilities into the broader U.S. Government architecture.
• This is the second SCE contract with the NRO that Umbra has secured.
• Image credit: Umbra

The NRO has selected the space technology company, Umbra, for the Stage II option of its Commercial Radio Frequency (RF) Capabilities contract under the Strategic Commercial Enhancements (SCE) initiative as announced by Umbra.

The SCE effort aims to evaluate, harness, and incorporate new and emerging commercial Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and technologies under the guidance of the Commercial Systems Program Office (CSPO). Recognized for its vertically integrated approach to space technology, Umbra has received its second SCE contract with the NRO, having previously secured the Stage II option of the SCE Commercial Radar Capabilities contract in late 2022.

The Stage II phase is poised to deliver RF products aimed at validating on-orbit performance while assessing mission utility and the seamless integration of U.S. domestic commercial RF capabilities into the broader U.S. Government architecture.

Omar Wheatley, Director of Strategic Programs at Umbra stated that “Supporting U.S. national security has always been a core tenet of Umbra’s mission, and we are thrilled to be included in the NRO’s continued pivot towards a hybrid overhead architecture. We deeply believe that the current and emerging American companies in the commercial ISR space are already making a meaningful contribution to the U.S.’ missions across all government sectors.”

Umbra’s expertise in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology, renowned for its ability to capture high-quality images regardless of environmental conditions, including night-time, cloud cover, smoke, and rain, stands as a pivotal asset in monitoring dynamic changes. The company offers high-quality SAR data, delivered at unmatched volumes and area density, furnishing the U.S. Government, its allies, and commercial partners with actionable insights in all weather conditions.

For more market insights, check out our latest space industry news here.