Unseenlabs' new satellite strengthens maritime surveillance

French company Unseenlabs, a leader in space-based radio frequency (RF) detection, has announced the launch of its latest satellite, BRO-18. Launched this week from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-14 mission, the asset is set to expand the company’s existing constellation and further strengthen its operational capabilities in tracking illegal and unreported maritime activity.

With the ability to precisely detect RF signals, even without cooperative transponders, Unseenlabs provides decision-makers with the capability to monitor, identify and anticipate suspicious behaviours at sea — covering areas including maritime security, illegal fishing, piracy and more. The company’s proprietary single-satellite technology enables it to detect and geolocate RF emitters at sea with high precision, day or night, regardless of weather conditions — enabling it to provide governments, NGOs, insurers and maritime operators with fast and immediately actionable data to inform their operational systems.

BRO-18 reinforces Unseenlabs’ already operational 16-satellite constellation — which is operational across key strategic maritime zones worldwide — expanding its geographical coverage while increasing the precision of the RF data collected. The result is a surveillance capability better able to detect, locate and analyse RF signals emitted by ships — even those attempting to remain undetected by switching off their automatic identification system (AIS).

“This new satellite strengthens our commitment to delivering high-quality, independent and actionable data that supports strategic decision-making in an increasingly complex maritime environment,” said Clément Galic, CEO and co-founder of Unseenlabs. “BRO-18 is part of our continued scale-up strategy, designed to support maritime actors facing critical challenges of sovereignty, security and transparency.”

In 2026, Unseenlabs will continue its expansion with the development of a second multi-domain surveillance constellation — covering maritime, land, air and space — to meet the growing global challenges of security and sovereignty. This is anticipated to broaden operational use cases and establish Unseenlabs as a key provider of multi-domain electromagnetic intelligence.

Image courtesy Unseenlabs