Spire Global has been selected by Precursor SPC to supply GNSS radio occultation (RO) profiles as part of a next generation hypersonic tracking capability.
The agreement focuses on integrating RO derived atmospheric and ionospheric data into Precursor’s real time nowcasting platform. The objective is straightforward: improve attribution and maintain continuous tracking of hypersonic vehicles across all flight phases, including boost, glide, and terminal segments.
This addresses a known limitation in existing missile defense architectures. Radar and infrared sensors can detect and track objects, but they do not directly measure the environmental conditions that distort signals and affect trajectory estimation. RO data fills that gap by providing vertical profiles of atmospheric density, temperature, and electron content.
Real time ionospheric nowcasting improves tracking and communications reliability
At hypersonic speeds, vehicles operate in regimes where ionospheric variability becomes a critical factor. Plasma formation, rapid heating, and changing electron density can degrade RF signals and introduce tracking uncertainty.
Precursor’s platform combines multiple data sources including GNSS signals, ionosonde measurements, and RO profiles using AI and machine learning models. The result is a continuously updated ionospheric nowcast that reflects real world conditions rather than static atmospheric models.
RO works by measuring the phase delay and bending of GNSS signals as they pass through the atmosphere. From this, it is possible to reconstruct vertical profiles with high precision.
In operational terms, this allows:
- Better prediction of signal propagation errors.
- Improved correction of GNSS based tracking solutions.
- Enhanced situational awareness for communication links.
- More accurate trajectory reconstruction in contested environments.
Spire’s satellite constellation is capable of generating up to 20,000 RO profiles per day, which enables high temporal resolution monitoring at a global scale.
Artemis II mission demonstrates real time environmental intelligence capability
The partnership has already been validated during the Artemis II mission, where Spire’s RO data supported real time ionospheric monitoring during both launch and re entry phases.
During these phases, communication blackout risks and rapid ionospheric changes are most pronounced. The system tracked electron density variations and RF degradation in near real time, providing actionable insight into conditions that directly impact telemetry and tracking performance.
This demonstration highlights a broader shift. Environmental intelligence is moving from a background variable to an operational input that can influence real time decision making.
Hypersonic tracking shifts toward multi layer sensing architectures
The integration of RO data reflects a larger trend in defense and aerospace systems. No single sensor type is sufficient for hypersonic tracking. Instead, architectures are evolving toward layered sensing:
- Radar and infrared for detection and tracking.
- GNSS based methods for positioning and timing.
- Environmental sensing for error correction and reliability.
In this context, ionospheric nowcasting becomes a force multiplier rather than a standalone capability. It enhances the performance of existing systems without replacing them.
About Spire Global
Spire Global operates a large constellation of nanosatellites focused on Earth data collection. The company provides data and analytics across aviation, maritime, weather, and government sectors.
Key figures:
- Satellite constellation delivering global coverage.
- Up to 20,000 GNSS RO profiles generated per day.
- Publicly listed on NYSE under ticker SPIR.
- Core products include weather intelligence, AIS ship tracking, and aircraft tracking data.
Spire’s positioning is built around high frequency data collection and analytics rather than hardware heavy satellite platforms, enabling scalable environmental intelligence services.
