Maxar Intelligence has signed an agreement with Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab to develop battlefield intelligence products leveraging satellite data, including Maxar's new terrain-based navigation system that enables drones to operate without relying on GPS signals.
The collaboration grants Saab access to Maxar's geospatial intelligence products, which encompass high-resolution satellite imagery, 3D terrain data, and technical expertise. Central to the partnership is Maxar's Raptor technology, a visual-based navigation system that substitutes GPS by comparing a drone's live camera feed with detailed 3D terrain models derived from satellite imagery.
Dan Smoot, CEO of Maxar Intelligence, described the agreement as part of Maxar's expanding international footprint, emphasizing growing demand for sovereign space-based defense capabilities amid global geopolitical uncertainty. “This partnership with Saab demonstrates our commitment to providing nations with the tools necessary to independently secure their defense technologies,” Smoot said in a statement.
Saab has already tested the Raptor system during recent military exercises. “Our collaboration with Maxar represents a significant leap forward in our commitment to use information from the space domain,” said Görgen Johansson, head of Saab's Dynamics business. Saab aims to deploy autonomous AI-powered drone swarms controlled by a single operator, a cutting-edge capability designed to enhance Sweden's defense modernization efforts.
The development arrives as Sweden, alongside NATO allies, seeks to strengthen its military technology amid ongoing regional conflicts, including Russia's extensive use of drones in Ukraine for reconnaissance and attacks. Maxar Intelligence, headquartered in Westminster, Colorado, is a leading provider of satellite imagery and geospatial data, while Saab, based in Stockholm, is among Europe's top defense contractors.