HawkEye 360 Constellation

The HawkEye 360 Constellation detects and geolocates RF signals for maritime situational awareness, emergency response, national security, and spectrum analysis applications. HawkEye 360 is the first commercial company to use formation flying satellites to create a new class of radio frequency (RF) data and data analytics.

SFL was selected in 2018 to develop and launch the three-satellite HawkEye 360 Pathfinder Cluster to demonstrate small satellite capabilities for geolocation of VHF, emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), automatic identification system (AIS) and marine radar signals.

Because successful RF geolocation depends on formation flying by multiple satellites, SFL’s expertise with advanced attitude and formation control software and hardware was a crucial part of the project. SFL’s commercially affordable technology enables superior pointing accuracy and targeting along with precise positioning. The technology is critical for the application since the relative position of each satellite in the constellation must be controlled and known accurately to geolocate the transmission sources of the RF signals.

After the Pathfinder mission, SFL built Clusters 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 on its space-proven 30-kg DEFIANT microsatellite bus. On 15 April 2023, the organizations celebrated the launch and deployment of Cluster 7, the first three satellites integrated in-house by HawkEye 360 as part of the production plan created by SFL to facilitate the economics of NewSpace business models. Flex Production gives SFL clients the option of having satellites built at SFL’s Toronto headquarters or setting up in-house production capabilities at their own facilities with guidance from SFL.

In addition to expanding HawkEye 360’s global revisit and collection capacity, subsequent microsatellites include enhanced antenna functions for greater flexibility in detecting and geolocating signals across a wide range of frequencies. The first seven clusters continue to operate successfully in orbit.

Clusters 8 and 9, launched on 7 April 2024, bring to 27 the total number of geolocation microsatellites developed by SFL for HawkEye 360, which integrated Cluster 8 at its own plant in Virginia under SFL’s Flex Production Program. For Cluster 9, which represents the next evolution and includes updated payload and platform features, SFL handled the entire process, including development, integration, and testing, at its Toronto facility. SFL will also provide technical support for the integration of Clusters 10, 11, 12 and 13 at HawkEye 360’s new manufacturing facility in Virginia.

Each new cluster expands HawkEye 360’s global revisit and collection capacity. These clusters will enable the constellation to have a global revisit rate of less than one hour, which is key to monitoring global activities and supporting timely defense, national security, and commercial applications.

The HawkEye 360 Constellation is a prime example of how SFL leverages its innovative technology and decades of experience to create low-cost, high-performance small satellites.