Three New Satellites Begin Radio Frequency Sweep From 520 Kilometers
Rocket Lab launched a trio of HawkEye 360 sensors on Oct. 23 to monitor global signals for government clients.
By Priya Marino ·
Three new satellites will soon scan the Earth for radio signals. These spacecraft, built for HawkEye 360, will track maritime vessels, detect GPS jamming, and monitor radar emissions. The data serves the U.S. government and allied nations.
Rocket Lab lifted off from New Zealand at 3:11 a.m. EDT on Oct. 23. The Electron rocket carried the payload to a 520-kilometer orbit. This mission, named "We're Not Hawking Around," was the company's 98th launch and its 19th of 2026.
HawkEye 360 operates these satellites in groups of three. The company began launching its first units in 2018. It now has nearly 50 satellites in low Earth orbit. The latest deployment followed a similar mission just two days earlier on a SpaceX flight.
The sensors use proprietary processing and AI to analyze the radio frequency spectrum. HawkEye 360 states that this technology turns signal data into a strategic advantage for decision-makers.
Rocket Lab has flown 16 Electron missions so far this year. The remaining three flights used HASTE, a suborbital version of the rocket. These flights test technology in hypersonic conditions.
The spacecraft will begin operations after commissioning in orbit. They will join the existing fleet to expand coverage of global communications and radar systems.
