Maxar Intelligence has entered into a strategic agreement with Swedish aerospace and defense firm Saab to develop advanced battlefield intelligence solutions using satellite-based data, with a particular focus on terrain-based drone navigation that operates independently of GPS systems.
As part of the collaboration, Saab will integrate Maxar’s geospatial intelligence offerings—including high-resolution satellite imagery, 3D terrain data, and technical expertise—into its defense technologies. One of the key innovations featured in the deal is Maxar’s Raptor, a visual navigation system that enables drones to determine their position and orientation by analyzing terrain features, rather than relying on satellite signals.
The Raptor system leverages Maxar’s detailed 3D models derived from satellite imagery. By comparing real-time camera feeds from a drone to these pre-mapped terrain models, the drone can navigate autonomously even in environments where GPS is denied or disrupted—a growing concern in modern electronic warfare.
“This partnership marks an important step in our international growth strategy as global defense clients seek sovereign space-based capabilities,” said Dan Smoot, CEO of Maxar Intelligence. Sovereign capabilities refer to a nation’s control over its own defense technologies, a priority heightened by ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Saab has already tested the Raptor system in military exercises. Görgen Johansson, head of Saab’s Dynamics division, emphasized the strategic value of the collaboration, calling it “a significant leap forward” in Saab’s integration of space-based information for next-generation defense.
The Swedish defense firm is also advancing its development of autonomous drone swarms powered by artificial intelligence. These swarms, controlled by a single operator, operate collaboratively to perform complex missions, potentially overwhelming enemy defenses through coordinated movement and volume.
Sweden, a recent NATO member, is investing heavily in its defense modernization amid the war in Ukraine, where drones have played a critical role in reconnaissance and strikes. Saab’s use of Maxar’s technologies positions the company to strengthen its national and allied defense capabilities.
Maxar Intelligence, headquartered in Westminster, Colorado, is a leading provider of satellite imagery and geospatial analytics for government and commercial sectors. Saab, based in Stockholm, is one of Europe’s premier defense contractors, producing systems ranging from advanced radar to fighter aircraft.