HawkEye 360, the global leader in signals intelligence data and analytics, announced the successful launch of Cluster 15, a three-satellite cluster featuring advanced antenna technology designed to increase collection capacity and accelerate the movement of mission data from space to the ground.
Cluster 15 launched aboard SpaceX’s Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and was deployed into mid-inclination orbit. Following deployment, HawkEye 360’s space operations team successfully established communications with all three satellites and began the commissioning process.
Cluster 15 introduces advanced antenna capabilities that support the simultaneous collection of multiple RF signal types and mission data downlink, establishing dedicated capacity as a core mission priority. Together, Clusters 15 and 16 are the first HawkEye 360 satellites purpose‑built around this dedicated‑capacity model, in which collection resources within a customer’s defined area of interest (AOI) are prioritized to meet specific mission requirements. This design provides committed capacity under a multi‑year agreement and ensures that collection efforts are closely aligned with the customer’s operational priorities.
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“Our customers operate in environments where timely access to signals can directly affect mission decisions,” said John Serafini, Chief Executive Officer of HawkEye 360. “Cluster 15 is designed to increase the amount of relevant RF we can collect while moving mission data to customers more quickly. That combination gives operators greater situational awareness on operationally relevant timelines and helps them act with greater confidence.”
The three satellites will operate in formation to detect, characterize and geolocate RF signals from space. Once commissioning is complete, Cluster 15 will expand HawkEye 360’s capacity to support defense, intelligence and security missions with timely, shareable signals intelligence. HawkEye 360 thanks Exolaunch, its launch integrator for the mission, for its support with mission management, satellite integration and deployment aboard Bandwagon-5.
SOURCE: HawkEye360
