London's SatVu lands £30M for thermal satellite network
London-based SatVu has closed a £30 million funding round, with backing from NATO, to expand its thermal intelligence satellite network. The company provides high-resolution, day-and-night thermal imagery for government and defence clients. The investment positions the UK as a key player in satellite intelligence and dual-use technology.
- This latest round brings SatVu's total equity funding to £60 million. The capital is crucial for the company's progression following a technical anomaly in December 2023 that ended the mission of its first satellite, HotSat-1, just six months after its launch. - The company's next two satellites, HotSat-2 and HotSat-3, are scheduled for launch in 2026, with contracts in place for three additional satellites as part of a planned seven-to-nine satellite constellation. - SatVu's technology offers a significant capability leap, providing thermal imagery at 3.5-meter resolution, far exceeding the 50-100 meter resolution previously available from commercial providers. Its sensors can also capture video, see through smoke, and operate day and night, unlike traditional optical satellites. - In a key leadership change, SatVu recently appointed Scott Herman as its new Chief Technology Officer in January 2026 to scale its platform for government and defence clients. Herman previously held senior technology roles at Earth observation intelligence firms BlackSky and Maxar. - The investment from the NATO Innovation Fund is part of the €1 billion fund's strategy to back deep-tech startups with dual-use applications in areas critical to Allied security, including space,
