• Virginia space-based intelligence company BlackSky's fifth Gen-3 satellite collected first-light imagery within 20 hours of launch, imaging Chinese bombers near Nanning.
  • Gen-3 satellites offer 35-centimeter resolution at roughly one-fifth the cost of legacy platforms, expanding scarce imaging capacity.
  • BlackSky plans additional Gen-3 satellites by end of 2026, maintaining a dual constellation alongside its existing Gen-2 fleet.