Commercial satellite imagery helped the U.S. military identify changes in the positions of Chinese aircraft carriers and other ships, as well as possible clandestine airstrips in Ecuador, while a Government Accountability Office review found that the Space Force has not fully incorporated commercial intelligence into its operations. The findings show how unclassified imagery has been used for military and diplomatic purposes, while also documenting uncertainty inside the service over how to purchase and use it, the GAO review reported.

In 2024, imagery purchased by the National Reconnaissance Office showed changes over time in the locations of Chinese aircraft carriers and other ships. The images also identified the types of ships at Sanya Naval Base in Hainan province.

The same year, the Space Force’s Joint Commercial Operations Cell purchased imagery that helped U.S. Southern Command identify possible clandestine airstrips in Ecuador. The U.S. government shared the intelligence with Ecuador, whose government then investigated and disabled airstrips that were likely used by narcotraffickers, the GAO reported.

The Ecuador case illustrated how commercial imagery can support information sharing with foreign governments. Because the imagery is unclassified, sharing it does not disclose information about the military’s classified or “exquisite” assets. Jon Ludwigson, GAO’s contracting and national security acquisitions director, said commercial data can also help cue other systems and reduce pressure on highly capable classified systems.

“We’re not going to use commercial data for everything, but if we can use it for some things, it reduces the pressure on the exquisite systems to do things,” Ludwigson said, according to the GAO report’s source material. He also said commercial imagery can give the U.S. government opportunities to share information without disclosing the use of those systems.

Despite those examples, some Space Force officials told GAO that licensing costs, perceived restrictions on how purchased data could be used and concerns about long-term access had made them hesitant to acquire and use commercial space data. The report said those concerns contributed to hesitation among potential users.

The Joint Commercial Operations Cell spent nearly $77 million from 2023 through 2025 on commercial space services through the Global Data Marketplace, an e-commerce platform used by the military for unclassified images. The cell buys most of the Space Force’s data through the marketplace.

A working group meets monthly to coordinate purchases made by the U.S. government through the platform, but Space Force officials were not included, according to the report. Information about the group was also not widely available. GAO said many of the concerns reported by Space Force officials could have been addressed through discussions in the working group.

The report recommended that Air Force Secretary Troy Meink increase communication and awareness of the working group. The Defense Department concurred with the recommendation in a June 18 response. GAO said greater communication could lead more Space Force and other officials to participate in discussions that address perceived issues and improve the use of commercial space data and services for national security purposes.

The NRO purchased commercial electro-optical imagery from Vantor, Planet Labs and BlackSky through its $4 billion Electro-Optical Commercial Layer contract, awarded in 2022. The imagery purchased under that contract included the 2024 images of Chinese aircraft carriers and other ships.

GAO said the Defense Department will need to integrate commercial space solutions as threats to its space assets from strategic competitors grow in number and intensity. The report said commercial data and services can help mitigate those threats and enhance the department’s capabilities. It also described commercial assets as a way to fill blind spots and protect or free up the use of crucial spy satellites.