SAN FRANCISCO – The European Space Agency awarded AAC Clyde Space a 10.9 million euro ($12.6 million) contract to complete development and demonstrate VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) satellites for the Inflecion maritime domain awareness program.
With the 12-satellite Inflecion constellation, AAC Clyde is developing a low-cost approach to detecting, tracking and monitoring maritime vessels, including ships that turn off their automated identification system (AIS) transponders.
“We combine synthetic aperture radar [SAR] with signals intelligence, and then we use the VHS Data Exchange System that is AIS compatible to communicate with the ships and with the authorities,” AAC Clyde Space CEO Luis Gomes told SpaceNews.
Since VDES enables two-way communication, “we will be able to challenge ships to identify themselves,” Gomes said. “The system allows you to do that kind of verification and authentication of shipping.”
Iceye UK will provide SAR data and Horizon Technologies of Reading, England, will supply signals intelligence. Inflecion’s VDES services are scheduled to be demonstrated in early 2029.
ESA and the UK Space Agency are sharing the cost of Inflecion, an ESA Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems Partnership Project. AAC Clyde Space completed phase one of the Inflecion program earlier this year.
Aside from Inflecion, AAC Clyde Space plans to launch additional VDES satellites to expand its maritime-monitoring business.
“We are proud to lead a consortium of highly qualified partners to advance this next generation service in maritime intelligence from space,” Gomes said in a statement. “We see increasing demand for resilient space-based maritime intelligence. Inflecion allows us to develop precisely that service.”
Christophe Allemand, who manages ESA Space Systems for Safety and Security, said in a statement that Inflecion will provide “dedicated connectivity for critical maritime operational services and more timely and reliable information from space” to support “safer, more resilient and more sustainable maritime operations.”
Henny Sands, UK Space Agency Satellite Communications head, said in a statement that Inflecion “brings together leading industrial and academic partners to develop capabilities that will improve maritime safety and awareness, and support more resilient and efficient global shipping.”
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