Strengthening Geospatial-Intelligence Partnerships During the Russia-Ukraine War
Leading geospatial intelligence agencies have formed geospatial data-sharing partnerships, in aid of Ukraine. As a result, world leaders and military partners have been granted access to unprecedented high-resolution and real-time imagery of Ukraine and its surrounding areas.
Information that in the past would have been classified, is now being shared across the GEO-INT community. Key actors in the war against Russia can now have a real-time understanding of events that are taking place in Ukraine and plan their efforts accordingly.
Get the latest in the geospatial intelligence community by downloading the DGI event agenda here .
The US Department of State-funded Conflict Observatory programme is collecting, analysing, and sharing information on Russia's acts during the war. By partnering with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA,) the Conflict Observatory is providing GEO-INT data in the pursuit of military and humanitarian aid.
Director of the NGA, Vice Adm. Robert Sharp spoke of the benefits that sharing geospatial-intelligence data is providing those in Ukraine:
“These geospatially based products have been absolutely critical in providing world leaders and military planners a common understanding of what’s going on in Ukraine and its surrounding areas, so that they can concentrate their time and energy on discussing what can be done, and taking action,”
This example of collaboration between agencies shows how important strengthening GEO-INT partnerships are. Sharing vital geospatial data, such as real-time satellite imagery, is enabling international partners to combat the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
GEO-INT is also helping with accountability efforts. The Conflict Observatory analyses publicly and commercially available information, such as satellite imagery, to aid in establishing events in real time. Geo-INT data is being used to refute disinformation that Russia is putting out and expose any war crimes that they are committing. The NGA plays a key role in this by collecting and sharing information on Ukraine and its surrounding areas, whilst making that data available to partner nations and accountability bodies.
Alongside satellite imagery, NGA has also provided training for military partners on the Aerial Reconnaissance Tactical Edge Mapping Imagery System (ARTEMIS). ARTEMIS is an unmanned aircraft system, which can be used to collect visual imagery, as well as other data types, in atmospheric conditions that satellites are not suited to.
Despite ARTEMIS’ need for further optimisation, military forces in Europe can use it for high-resolution imagery. This allows for the creation of a more successful Geospatial-Intelligence strategy that can be easily shared with international partners.
Working alongside the academic community has been a vital partnership according to Vice Adm. Robert Sharp. He praised academic partners, saying:
“Our Education Partner Agreements and Cooperative Research & Development Agreements – with so many great universities – have not only established cutting-edge research critical to improving our capabilities, but a pipeline for the future GEOINT analysts, imagery analysts, data scientists, geodesy scientists, and other STEM experts we all need,”
Geospatial Intelligence partnerships will continue to play an important role in the Russia-Ukraine war. This can only be done through collaborative partnerships where all of those involved, from military planners to data scientists, are working toward the same end goal.
Partnerships between US geospatial intelligence agencies, and their counterparts in Europe have provided an amazing case study during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The vital role they play in providing aid to those on the ground is a route map for how these collaborations should unfold in future conflicts.
Uncover what’s trending in the geospatial intelligence industry by downloading the DGI event agenda.