NATO is turning to a publicly traded space company to bolster their defense tech capabilities.
What’s happening:
- Planet Labs (NYSE: PL) has entered into a new deal with the NATO Communications and Information Agency to leverage their high resolution satellite data to support NATO missions
The big idea:
- Planet Labs has developed satellite imagery and geospatial technology that is capable of providing data and imaging of what is happening on the Earth’s surface in real time
- The satellite network operated by Planet Labs is capable of producing insights into forestry, agriculture, energy infrastructure, military intelligence and more
Why it matters:
- Planet Labs operates the largest Earth observation fleet of imaging satellites of any company in the world
- The new partnership between Planet Labs and NATO will give NATO unparalleled insights into the monitoring of military infrastructure, threat assessment, potential planned missile launches and unusual movements
By the numbers:
- Since inception, Planet Labs has worked with more than 1,000 customers and generated more than $220M USD in total revenues through satellite data and imaging
Going deeper:
- Planet Labs already has existing partnerships with the United States Department of Defense, the Kenya Space Agency and multiple other governments globally
The intrigue:
- There has been a big uptick in excitement about publicly listed space companies recently, leading to an influx of new capital flowing into the North American listed aerospace companies and meaningful technological advancements
