BAE Systems is expanding its role in space-based surveillance with a new $16-million Phase 2 contract from DARPA to advance the Oversight program for autonomous tracking of terrestrial assets using satellite constellations.
The follow-on award comes after Phase 1 successfully demonstrated the company’s software in modeling and simulation environments, showing it could maintain “custody” of multiple assets using representative satellite and sensor models.
In Phase 2, BAE will refine its algorithms and test them with larger constellations, more complex scenarios, and higher-fidelity simulations. The system will be deployed both on tactical-edge satellites and ground stations, enabling near real-time tracking and situational awareness.
Ben Cooper, senior principal scientist at BAE Systems’ FAST Labs, highlighted the move toward tactical-edge operations.
“Future mission requirements are pushing capabilities to the tactical edge. In space, this means operating primarily on-board satellites,” he said.
Oversight Program and Current Participants
Oversight is part of DARPA’s broader push to integrate AI into space-based surveillance and autonomous operations.
Similar initiatives include the Blackjack program, which seeks to deploy large constellations of low-Earth orbit satellites equipped with AI-enabled mission planning to improve reconnaissance and communications resilience.
Another effort, Space Enabled Effects for Military Engagements, aims to provide small units on the ground access to on-demand satellite imagery via small, low-cost satellites. This will allow the improvement of tactical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance where traditional satellites or unmanned aerial vehicles may not reliably deliver.
The “Pit Boss” architecture, developed under the Blackjack program, is designed to deploy satellite buses and payloads across a proliferated constellation. The project features autonomous on-orbit processing, inter-satellite links, and distributed decision-making hardware and software.
