WASHINGTON — Vantor has chosen BAE Systems to build its next generation of high-resolution imaging satellites. The selection reunites Vantor with the former Ball Aerospace business that helped develop DigitalGlobe’s Earth-observation satellites.
The Colorado-based Earth intelligence company said June 24 that BAE will build its planned Vantage satellites, a new class of 20-centimeter imaging spacecraft expected to enter service before the end of the decade. Two Vantage satellites are planned as part of an expansion of Vantor’s current fleet of 10 electro-optical imaging satellites.
“BAE Systems was selected based on its extensive heritage developing highly capable spacecraft systems and its long-standing partnership supporting the Vantor constellation,” the company said.
The award returns a familiar name to Vantor’s supply chain. Before its acquisition by BAE Systems in 2024, Ball Aerospace built DigitalGlobe’s Earth-observation satellites, including WorldView-1, WorldView-2 and WorldView-3. Ball supplied the spacecraft buses, imaging instruments and camera systems.
The selection of BAE followed a competitive process in which Vantor evaluated several manufacturers.
Vantor’s newest six-satellite WorldView Legion constellation, launched between 2024 and 2025, was built by Maxar Space Systems, the satellite manufacturing business that was separated from Maxar Intelligence following Advent International’s acquisition of Maxar Technologies.
That business was later renamed Lanteris and acquired by Intuitive Machines, leaving Vantor without the in-house manufacturing relationship that produced its most recent generation of spacecraft.
The Vantage spacecraft form one piece of a broader constellation expansion unveiled by Vantor in April. The company plans to add two Vantage satellites alongside smaller Pulse satellites designed to provide more frequent coverage of areas of interest.
The Pulse satellites are intended to increase revisit rates, while the larger Vantage spacecraft would continue the company’s focus on high-resolution collection. Together, the systems are intended to support more persistent monitoring without abandoning the image quality.
Matt Jenkins, Vantor’s chief space systems officer, said BAE’s experience supporting imaging programs and spacecraft manufacturing made it the preferred production partner.
Brad Shogrin, vice president and general manager of national space for BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems, said the company “looks forward to growing our partnership as we advance to the production phase of these next-generation space vehicles. We are excited to once again partner with them on these advanced systems.”
