Spire Global, a leading provider of satellite-based data and analytics, has announced a partnership with German defense contractor Diehl Defence to assess the feasibility of space-based missile warning systems. The collaboration will leverage Spire’s existing constellation of small satellites to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missile threats, a growing priority for NATO and allied nations.
The project will focus on evaluating Spire’s multi-sensor platform, which includes radio frequency monitoring and GNSS-radio occultation technology, to determine its efficacy for early warning and targeting. Diehl Defence brings expertise in missile defense systems, including sensor fusion and threat classification. No specific payloads or satellite modifications have been disclosed yet.
Spire currently operates over 100 satellites in low Earth orbit, primarily used for weather forecasting, maritime tracking, and aviation monitoring. This partnership marks a pivot toward defense applications, though the timeline for any operational capability remains undefined. Past efforts by other commercial firms to enter missile warning have faced technical and regulatory hurdles.
If successful, the initiative could offer a lower-cost, proliferated alternative to traditional dedicated missile warning satellites like the U.S. Space Force's SBIRS and Next-Gen OPIR systems. However, Diehl and Spire face stiff competition from established defense primes such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, which have decades of experience in this domain.
The partnership underscores a broader trend of commercial space companies entering national security markets. Yet, the technical challenges of detecting fast-moving hypersonic weapons from space—especially in cluttered infrared and radar environments—remain formidable. Neither firm has provided cost estimates or a target date for a demonstrator mission.