Saab and Maxar agree strategic partnership to develop multi-domain battlespace solutions

Sweden’s Saab and Colorado-headquartered Maxar Intelligence, a leading provider of geospatial intelligence, announced on 4 June 2025 that they have entered into a partnership “set to transform the multi-domain battlespace with cutting-edge space-based capabilities”.

Through the partnership Saab will leverage Maxar’s advanced satellite technologies and geospatial intelligence to further develop targeting capabilities, GPS-resilient systems and advanced command, control, communication, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) solutions. The initiative aims to create robust and intelligent systems that can operate effectively even in GPS-denied environments, ensuring greater operational capabilities on the modern battlefield.

“Our collaboration with Maxar represents a significant leap forward in our commitment to use information from the space domain and thereby enhancing the strategic defence capabilities of Europe and beyond,” Görgen Johansson, head of Saab’s Dynamics business area, was quoted as saying in a Saab press release.

“By integrating Maxar’s high-end geospatial insights and satellite capabilities with our advanced defence systems, we are setting new standards in the effectiveness and reliability of military operations across multiple domains,” Johansson added.

“This partnership will bring together Maxar’s industry-leading geospatial intelligence products with Saab’s highly advanced defence systems to solve some of the most complex tactical and operational challenges across the battlespace today – from powering more intelligent, real-time multi-domain command and control systems to helping autonomous systems overcome GPS jamming,” stated Dan Smoot, Maxar Intelligence CEO, in a company press release. “The deal also reflects the growing realisation that geospatial intelligence can go beyond powering analyst workflows to powering mission-focused software products deployed at the tactical edge.”

The agreement between Saan and Maxar builds on successful joint testing of Maxar’s Raptor software, which facilitates autonomous drone navigation and operation in GPS-denied environments. The technology was tested with Saab in multiple countries, including a trial in real-world conditions where the product demonstrated the ability to accurately extract ground co-ordinates within an accuracy of less than 2 m.

Maxar’s geospatial intelligence products will help Saab build more advanced C5ISR solutions through secure access to “the most advanced commercial satellite imagery in near real time”, Maxar stated, adding that its 3D terrain data “unlocks unique opportunities for real-time multi-source data fusion, enabling truly joint multi-domain operations, seamless interoperability between autonomous systems and enhanced mission co-ordination”.