From AI adoption and explainability to new commercial satellite contracts, Breaking Defense’s latest eBook brings together reporting from GEOINT 2026 on how intelligence leaders are shaping the future of space-based geospatial intelligence.

Outgoing NRO Director Chris Scolese said the agency is expanding its work to allow analysts to understand how AI does its analysis.

In her first major speech since taking the reins at NGA, Lt. Gen. Michelle Bredenkamp also said the agency has stood up a new Rapid Capabilities Office to speed integration of innovative commercial tech.

The Andromeda IDIQ contract vehicle will fund a replacement for the current GSSAP on-orbit inspection satellites as well as the classified SILENTBARKER space surveillance birds.

“The path to AI enabled, allied intelligence advantage runs primarily through governance, not necessarily through additional capability,” said UK Royal Marine Maj. Gen. Paul Lynch, who directs NATO intelligence policy.

The head of the NRO’s commercial programs, Pete Muend, suggested that spysat agency could vet the ability of commercial satellite firms to track airborne targes for the US Space Force.

As cyberattacks increasingly aim to disrupt operations rather than just steal data, GEOINT providers need models that can continue operations under attack, Norman Laudermilch writes.