Government Demand I: US Intelligence (NRO and NGA)
How much does US intelligence spend on commercial imagery, through which contracts, and how secure is that spending?
Chapter summary
US intelligence is the anchor customer of the commercial imagery industry.
Key takeaways
- 1
The National Reconnaissance Office buys imagery through the Electro-Optical Commercial Layer (EOCL), a ten-year programme worth about $4 billion if all options are taken, with Maxar (now Vantor) holding the largest share and BlackSky and Planet smaller ones.
- 2
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency buys analytics through its Luno contracts ($290 million Luno A, $200 million Luno B ceilings).
- 3
The 2026 budget request proposed cutting EOCL from about $300 million a year to about $200 million and zeroing NRO's commercial radar line; Congress's intelligence committees moved to restore funding, but the final classified figures are not public.
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The Market Matrix: Sensors by Buyers
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