Israeli company unveils satellite with 25 cm resolution and AI processing in orbit
ImageSat International’s EROS NOVA combines very-high-resolution imagery with video, short-wave infrared sensing and onboard AI designed to process selected data in space and shorten the path from satellite collection to actionable intelligence.
ImageSat International has unveiled a new intelligence satellite that combines 25-centimeter imagery with video, short-wave infrared sensing and onboard artificial intelligence, reflecting a broader shift in how satellite-based intelligence is being collected and processed.
The Israeli company said EROS NOVA, its next-generation Very-Very-High-Resolution Earth observation satellite, is designed to provide a native resolution of 25 centimeters while adding capabilities that go beyond conventional high-resolution imaging.
The satellite is intended for defense, intelligence and strategic applications, giving users the ability to collect different types of information from a single platform.
The most significant change may be what happens to that information after it is collected.
EROS NOVA will include onboard AI and processing capabilities that can analyze selected data while the satellite is still in orbit. ISI says the system is designed to identify and prioritize mission-relevant information and shorten the time between collecting an image and delivering intelligence that can be acted upon.
That reflects a growing challenge for intelligence organizations. The value of a satellite is not only in how much detail it can capture, but also in how quickly that information can be turned into something useful.
EROS NOVA combines several capabilities that have traditionally served different intelligence needs.
Its primary imaging system will provide 25-centimeter native resolution. The satellite will also carry short-wave infrared, or SWIR, imaging capabilities, allowing it to collect information beyond the visible spectrum.
ISI said the combination of visible and SWIR imaging will expand the range of information available to users and complement the satellite's high-resolution imagery and video collection.
The addition of video is another significant part of the platform. Rather than relying only on individual images, the satellite is being designed to provide video collection alongside still imagery and other sensing capabilities.
The onboard AI is perhaps the clearest indication of where ISI sees satellite intelligence heading.
EROS NOVA will be able to process and analyze selected data directly in orbit. Instead of sending all collected information back for processing on the ground before it can be assessed, the satellite is designed to perform some of that work before transmitting the results.
ISI says this will allow the satellite to prioritize mission-relevant information and reduce the time between collection and actionable intelligence.
The company has not provided details in the announcement about the specific AI models, algorithms or processing hardware that will be used.
EROS NOVA will join ISI's existing family of Earth observation platforms, including RUNNER and KNIGHT.
“EROS NOVA represents the next generation of space-based intelligence, bringing together advanced imaging, multiple sensing capabilities and onboard intelligence in a single satellite platform,” ISI CEO Noam Segal said.
