Satellite Data Contract Targets Real-Time Hypersonic Tracking Capability
GNSS Radio Occultation Data to Enable Continuous Tracking Across All Flight Phases as Complementary Missile Defense Layer
A new contract between a space domain awareness firm and a satellite data provider aims to deliver real-time hypersonic vehicle tracking — a capability that current radar and infrared systems cannot fully provide. Precursor SPC has selected Spire Global to supply GNSS radio occultation (RO) profiles to support the effort.
“The complexity of hypersonic threats demands that we move beyond static models and embrace real-time, environmental intelligence.”
Quintin Jones, Spire Global
Under the agreement, Precursor SPC will integrate Spire’s RO profiles into its AI/ML-driven ionospheric nowcasting platform to enable continuous, real-time tracking of hypersonic vehicles across all phases of flight. The partnership addresses a critical gap in missile defense: the inability of traditional sensors to fully characterize rapidly changing atmospheric and ionospheric conditions that affect hypersonic trajectory tracking and communications.
Hypersonic vehicles travel at extreme speeds and altitudes where the surrounding atmosphere can shift in seconds. Radar and infrared systems are not designed to monitor these environmental variables in real time. Precursor’s platform uses AI/ML fusion to combine data from GNSS, ionosondes, RO profiles, and other sources to generate continuous ionospheric nowcasts — providing battlefield-relevant insight into electron density changes, RF degradation, and other factors that influence tracking and long-range communications.
“The complexity of hypersonic threats demands that we move beyond static models and embrace real-time, environmental intelligence,” said Quintin Jones, Head of North America and VP, Spire Global. “By providing a persistent layer of ‘invisible intelligence’ from our constellation, we are proud to work with partners like Precursor SPC to turn atmospheric volatility from a tactical blind spot into a strategic advantage.”
Spire’s radio occultation profiles deliver precise measurements of atmospheric density and ionospheric conditions on a global scale. The constellation has the capacity to produce up to 20,000 RO profiles per day, enabling the high-frequency environmental monitoring required to track fast-moving hypersonic threats and safeguard long-range communications.
“Our partnership with Spire represents a significant step toward delivering a next-generation capability for hypersonic tracking,” said Clive Cook, CEO of Precursor SPC. “By integrating Spire’s RO data with our real-time nowcasting platform, we are addressing a critical gap in today’s operational environment to support more accurate tracking and the evolving needs of the warfighter.”
The two companies recently demonstrated the technology’s operational potential during the Artemis II mission — NASA’s first crewed lunar flight in more than half a century. Using Spire’s RO profiles, Precursor monitored ionospheric conditions in near real time across both launch and re-entry phases, tracking electron density changes, RF degradation, and other dynamic factors that affect communication and tracking during the most critical moments of flight. That real-world test adds credibility to the system’s potential application in a defense context.