WASHINGTON — Umbra, a space technology company specializing in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging, is expanding into the satellite manufacturing business.
The company this week announced a new business segment called Mission Solutions aimed at the U.S. and other governments that seek “components, software, and demonstration of mission capabilities through full SAR constellations,” said Jason Mallare, Umbra’s vice president of global solutions.
Founded in 2015, Umbra aims to capitalize on increased interest in radar satellite technology, especially among governments wanting to build and run their own tailored systems.
SAR satellites use radar sensors to create high-resolution images of the Earth’s surface day and night, penetrating cloud cover. This makes them valuable for a range of applications, from defense and intelligence to environmental monitoring and urban planning.
“We see a growing demand for complete satellite systems as well as other mission capabilities,” Mallare said. Umbra, for example, would provide customers with dedicated SAR data access to the company’s satellites while their systems are being built. “We can also support models like government-owned, contractor-operated or do a full handoff of a system,” he said.
Umbra did not disclose financial details or specific customers for this new business. “We currently see strong demand and active engagement with customers around the globe that need capabilities to support multiple defense, intelligence and civil missions,” said Mallare.
Based in Santa Barbara, California, Umbra currently operates eight SAR satellites in orbit, with plans to expand its constellation to 32. These satellites are designed to work in pairs or clusters, enabling services such as bistatic SAR imaging, where one satellite transmits radar signals and another receives the reflections, potentially improving image resolution and data collection.
Umbra’s new business reflects a broader trend in the space industry, with remote sensing companies increasingly offering end-to-end solutions to attract a wider customer base.
Competitors such as Capella Space and BlackSky have made similar moves, with Capella offering complete SAR systems to governments and BlackSky partnering with Thales Alenia Space to produce a dedicated Earth observation constellation for Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense.
