Pentagon awards contract for high resolution satellite imagery

WASHINGTON (AFP) Mar 30, 2004
A Pentagon intelligence agency said Monday it has contracted a Virginia-based company to provide it with high-resolution satellite imagery, the latest in a series of contracts for commercial satellite imagery worth up to 500 million dollars.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) said it awarded the multi-year contract to Orbimage, Inc., which is guaranteed 27.6 million dollars over 22 months to provide high resolution imagery.

The agency, formerly the National Imaging and Mapping Agency, last year awarded similar contracts to Colorado-based Space Imaging LLC and Digital Global Inc.

"There is the potential to award a total of 500 million dollars over the term of these contracts with the minimum guarantees stated above to Space Imaging, Digital Global and Orbimage," NGA said.

The agency said the program gives government customers greater priority and access to high resolution imagery while making a long-term commitment to the industry.

"This is an important step because it helps make the commercial satellite capabilities of the United States even more viable and robust," said retired lieutenant general James Clapper.

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