In a groundbreaking revelation, Reuters reports today that SpaceX's subsidiary, Starshield, has been working on a classified contract with the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) since 2021. Citing unnamed sources familiar with the program, the report confirms that SpaceX has been tasked with building a network of "hundreds" of spy satellites equipped with Earth-imaging capabilities that will operate in low orbits as a swarm.

The details of the secretive contract were first mentioned in a Wall Street Journal report back in February, highlighting a classified deal worth $1.8 billion between SpaceX and a then-unnamed government agency. Today, Reuters has unveiled that the contract is indeed with the NRO, shedding light on the purpose and specifications of the project.

Although the report does not mention the operational timeline or any other companies involved, it does provide some intriguing information. It reveals that SpaceX has already deployed satellites under the Starshield program that have not been acknowledged by the company or the government. These satellites are identified as Starshield prototypes in a US database of space objects.

SpaceX's Starshield unit is described by the company as a secure satellite network focused on government applications. Elon Musk himself tweeted that the network "will be owned by the US government and controlled by DoD Space Force." It is worth noting that Starshield has previously signed a contract with the US Space Force to provide satellite communications for the military through the Starlink system.

If successful, the NRO's contract with SpaceX would significantly enhance the US government and military's ability to identify potential targets across the globe promptly. While an NRO spokesperson declined to comment specifically on SpaceX's involvement, the spokesperson did confirm to Reuters that they are actively working on developing the most powerful and resilient space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system ever created.

The revelation of SpaceX's secret contract with the NRO shines a light on the ambitious strides both companies are taking in the realm of satellite technology. With the potential for hundreds of advanced spy satellites, the partnership could revolutionize the US government's intelligence capabilities once the network is fully operational.