Leidos signs on as Hawkeye 360 investor and strategic partner

SAN FRANCISCO — Hawkeye 360 extended its Series D funding round to $150 million with a $5 million investment from Leidos.

After Reston, Virginia-based Hawkeye 360 announced in November that it raised $145 million for its RF data reconnaissance business in Series D, Leidos signed on as an investor and strategic partner. “Leidos will use its expertise in developing advanced analytics to leverage HawkEye 360’s unique RF geospatial intelligence data,” according to the Jan. 6 announcement.

“HawkEye 360 is pleased to welcome such a distinguished defense and intelligence leader as Leidos to our group of world class investors,” HawkEye 360 CEO John Serafini said in a statement. “We look forward to harnessing their support to create significant value not only for the defense, intelligence and national security communities, but also for organizations addressing some of the most complex global challenges facing humanity and the environment.”

Paul Engola, Leidos national security space executive vice president, said in a statement, “We’re confident this investment will strengthen our robust capabilities in the National Security Space arena. This will also create innovative pathways to deliver bold solutions to our customers as they work to safeguard U.S. and allied interests.”

Leidos, one of the largest U.S. government contractors, works extensively with defense and intelligence agencies. Formerly known as SAIC, Leidos merged with Lockheed Martin’s Information Systems & Global Solutions in 2016. In 2020, Leidos acquired Dynetics and L3Harris’ Security Detection and Automation Systems division.

Hawkeye 360 operates a constellation of nine satellites in three clusters to detect, characterize and geolocate RF signals stemming from emitters like VHF marine radios, UHF push-to-talk radios, maritime and land-based radar systems, L-band satellite devices and emergency beacons.

source: spacenews.com