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The Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded BlackSky a contract valued at up to $99 million for the development of a large optical imaging payload for space-based intelligence systems. Announced on March 6, the indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract is structured as a Small Business Innovation Research Phase 3 agreement, running through 2032.

BlackSky will create a segmented mirror optical imaging system, allowing for wide-area surveillance and the identification of small objects. The government has initially obligated $2.1 million, with further funding available through task orders. This effort aligns with BlackSky's plans for a wide-area Earth observation satellite, Aros, slated for a 2027 launch.