HERNDON, Va. — HawkEye 360, a leading provider of space-based radio frequency (RF) data and analytics, announced the renewal of its contract with the U.S. Navy for a fourth consecutive year. The award, a $98.8 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, falls under the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) initiative. This extension ensures continued Navy access to HawkEye 360’s commercial RF detection and monitoring capabilities across critical areas of the Pacific Ocean.
The contract represents a deepening of the strategic partnership between the commercial technology firm and the Department of Defense. HawkEye 360’s constellation of satellites detects and pinpoints a wide array of RF signals emitted by vessels at sea, including communications, radar, and navigation systems. This data provides a unique layer of intelligence that is integrated into operational tools, helping to create a more comprehensive maritime picture. A primary application is the identification of “dark vessels” that have disabled their automatic identification systems (AIS) to avoid tracking, often for illicit activities such as illegal fishing or smuggling.
“This renewal is a significant vote of confidence in our partnership and an investment in innovative solutions for maritime security,” said Andy Charles, General Manager for the Department of War at HawkEye 360. “Our ability to move quickly as a mission-focused commercial company allows us to deliver technological advancements that enhance information sharing and coalition operations at the speed required in modern scenarios.”
The company’s analytics transform raw signal detections into actionable insights on vessel behavior, patterns of life, and anomalous activities. For the U.S. Navy and its allied partners under IPMDA, this intelligence is vital for promoting transparency, enforcing maritime laws, and ensuring regional stability. The initiative specifically aims to share unclassified commercial data with partners across Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands to bolster collective maritime domain awareness.
“Entering our fourth year of collaboration underscores a shared commitment to advancing maritime security in the Indo-Pacific,” said James G. McAden, General Manager for the Asia Pacific region at HawkEye 360. “We are proud to deliver advanced RF analytics that strengthen situational awareness and support decisive action for our partners.”
The renewal highlights the Pentagon’s growing reliance on commercial satellite data to augment traditional military assets. HawkEye 360’s RF data, when fused with optical imagery, AIS, and other sources, provides a powerful tool for monitoring vast oceanic regions, demonstrating the evolving role of the private sector in national and international security frameworks.
