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NATO is looking to enhance the functionality of the Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space (APSS) program.
The alliance said it is looking for a “unified service to orchestrate collection tasking, manage data ingest, and ensure timely exploitation of ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] data on unclassified networks.” The outreach to industry comes as NATO looks to move APSS from an initial to full operational capability, the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) said in a recent request for information.
NATO launched the APSS program in 2023 to enhance collection, dissemination and distribution of the reams of space situational awareness data gathered by national and commercial space systems though what NATO calls the Aquila virtual constellation. The effort has been a centerpiece of NATO’s efforts to do more in space since it adopted a space strategy in 2019 declaring it a warfighting domain.
The new service would support collection managers working in the Allied Command Operations. The system should have an up-time greater than 99.5%, with the service looking for a cloud-based approach for the three-year contract period.
Among the functions the new service is intended to deliver is the ability to task using one platform of commercial companies on contract with NCIA and national capabilities. The system should also be open to plug in other commercial services as well, such as artificial intelligence tools.
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