Kleos Space
Kleos Space S.A. is a Luxembourg-headquartered, ASX-listed company that operated a small-satellite RF geolocation constellation serving defense, intelligence, maritime, and border security customers via subscription GEOINT products. As of October 2024 the company has zero employees, all contracts are terminated, and an asset sale is pending.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersEsch-sur-alzette, Luxembourg
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Kleos Space does
Kleos Space S.A. is a Luxembourg-registered, ASX-listed (KSS) space-based defense and intelligence technology company that builds, launches, and operates a constellation of small satellites in Low Earth Orbit to detect and geolocate radio frequency (RF) transmissions for government and commercial customers. The technical core is a four-satellite cluster formation flying in rectangular geometry with multilateration algorithms, enabling the company to triangulate RF emitters and deliver geospatial intelligence products (notably Guardian LOCATE, plus LOCATE X and LOCATE OPTIX developed with General Atomics GA-CCRI) covering maritime domain awareness, border security, counter-piracy, illegal fishing detection, and ISR missions. Data is delivered via API in JSON format on a subscription basis (Data-as-a-Service) with a Mission-as-a-Service option for dedicated collection capacity.
Between November 2020 and January 2023 the company launched four clusters (KSM1 Scouting Mission, KSF1 Vigilance, KSF2 Patrol, KSF3 Observer) containing 16 satellites total, and obtained Luxembourg authorization for up to 80 spacecraft. The company secured high-profile validation contracts including an NRO Commercial RF Capabilities award, a Royal Navy evaluation, and a CRADA with the US Navy NSWC Crane, with distribution through UP42 marketplace, General Atomics GA-CCRI, Japan Space Imaging, and Atlantis SIM. Cumulative recognized revenue through collapse was approximately €900k (February 2023).
The company experienced severe financial distress from July 2023 onward: its A$10 million secured debt facility from PURE Asset Management was called due, all customer and vendor contracts were terminated effective July 2023, and bankruptcy proceedings were considered but not filed. As of October 2024 the company had no employees, the sole Director (Andy Bowyer) was not employed by the company, and regulatory work to facilitate an asset sale had been ongoing for over a year. Only three of the original 16 satellites (KSF3a, KSF3b, KSF3d) remain operational.
Kleos Space firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kleos Space
- Legal name
- Kleos Space S.A.
- Website
- https://kleos.space
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Kleos Space S.A. is a Luxembourg-headquartered, ASX-listed company that operated a small-satellite RF geolocation constellation serving defense, intelligence, maritime, and border security customers via subscription GEOINT products. As of October 2024 the company has zero employees, all contracts are terminated, and an asset sale is pending.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kleos Space industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Geospatial Intelligence
- NAICS
- Satellite Telecommunications (5174), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Space-Based Defense Systems (SSA, Missile Warning, Protected SATCOM) (IMABAOAH), Space Defense & Missile Warning (BPAIAHAF), Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)
Keywords
Where Kleos Space is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Esch-sur-alzette
- HQ country
- Luxembourg
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Kleos Space business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Personnel
Revenue model
- Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) Subscription: Customers license RF geolocation data on a subscription basis (monthly or annual). Customers access data through API, querying by geographic area and time. Subscriptions grant license to access all available intelligence products from Standard Collection Zones (SCZs).
- Mission-as-a-Service (MaaS): Customers can purchase dedicated data collection capacity for specific areas of interest. Provides opportunity for higher value subscriptions with more frequent coverage.
- Guardian LOCATE Product Licensing: Geospatial intelligence products generated from RF data collected over predefined Standard Collection Zones. Revenue recognition began after daily data delivery milestone achieved in early 2023.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Subscription-based licensing for government and commercial customers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Kleos Space product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kleos Space operates a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites that detect and geolocate radio frequency (RF) transmissions to deliver geospatial intelligence data products. Its core offering, Guardian LOCATE, provides customers with transmitter frequency, coordinates, reception time, and confidence parameters via a subscription-based API, serving defense, intelligence, maritime, and border security applications.
Product overview
Kleos Space offers a space-based RF (Radio Frequency) reconnaissance data-as-a-service platform. The core product is Guardian LOCATE, which provides geolocated RF transmission data collected by satellite constellations. The company operates clusters of four satellites that collect RF data, which is then processed through Kleos' proprietary platform to deliver geospatial intelligence products. Guardian LOCATE serves as the primary GEOINT product, while LOCATE X and LOCATE OPTIX are newer offerings developed through the General Atomics partnership. Data is delivered via API in JSON format on a subscription basis (Data-as-a-Service). The company has launched four satellite clusters: Scouting Mission (KSM1), Vigilance Mission (KSF1), Patrol Mission (KSF2), and Observer Mission (KSF3), each containing four satellites in formation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Guardian LOCATE: Geospatial intelligence product that provides geolocated radio frequency transmissions collected over key areas of interest by Kleos satellites
- LOCATE X
- LOCATE OPTIX
Products and services
- Guardian LOCATE RF geolocation data product that detects and geolocates radio frequency transmissions from space to improve identification of hidden and illegal activity. Delivers geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) including transmitter frequency, coordinates, reception time, and confidence parameters via API in JSON format. Targeted at government defense, intelligence, maritime, and border security customers.
- LOCATE X RF geospatial situational awareness product powered by General Atomics OPTIX platform. Enables customers to gain valuable insights into RF activity with enhanced capabilities, developed through the strategic partnership with GA-CCRI.
- LOCATE OPTIX Visualization tool integrated with the OPTIX platform, allowing users to interrogate Kleos data and intelligence products, create historical views, overlay contextual layers, and extract deeper insights from RF geolocation data.
- Mission-as-a-Service (MaaS) Customized data collection service allowing customers to purchase dedicated satellite data collection capacity for specific areas of interest. Provides opportunity for higher value subscriptions with more frequent coverage of targeted regions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 119 million km² per day additional data collection capacity
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Kleos Space
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kleos Space technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability3 records
Feature4 records
Kleos Space partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- General Atomics Commonwealth Computer Research Inc (GA-CCRI)coreStrategic partnership where Kleos integrates GA-CCRI's OPTIX platform into LOCATE X and LOCATE OPTIX products. General Atomics becomes Channel Partner and value-added reseller for Kleos' data and intelligence products, offering them through the OPTIX catalog for global ISR customers.
- Ursa SpacecoreKleos joined Ursa Space Virtual Constellation, the world's largest database of satellite imagery from SAR, optical, and RF data vendors. Kleos LOCATE product accelerates Ursa's tip-and-cue capabilities by adding RF geolocation data layer to data fusion process.
- UP42corePartnership to offer Kleos' RF geolocation data on UP42's marketplace. Guardian LOCATE available alongside 180+ geospatial data sources, allowing fusion with existing imagery and algorithms.
- US Navy Naval Surface Warfare Center Division CraneminorCRADA agreement for joint data experimentation. Kleos provides RF geolocation data in realistic test scenarios to improve maritime domain awareness for sanctions reporting, transshipment monitoring, search and rescue, and smuggling detection.
- Japan Space Imaging Corp (JSI)minorPromotional partner for Japan supporting Kleos geolocation data promotion. JSI provides direct tactical and operational support to Japanese customers in defense and maritime security operations.
- Innovative Solutions In Space (ISISPACE)coreSatellite manufacturer providing turnkey solution including development, production, testing, launch integration services and early orbit phase support. Building all Kleos satellite clusters. Optional addendum for additional clusters.
- Atlantis SIMminorExclusive Territory Agent for Ecuador for two years. Provides solutions for illegal fishing and maritime security, delivering tactical and operational support to Ecuador Defense and Border Services.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kleos Space competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HawkEye 360: HawkEye 360 operates a larger commercial constellation of small satellites specifically designed to detect, characterize and geolocate RF signals from space — it is the closest direct competitor to Kleos' Guardian LOCATE product, serving the same defense, intelligence and maritime customers with overlapping value proposition.
Broad incumbents
- Maxar Technologies: Maxar is a large incumbent in space-based Earth observation and GEOINT, supplying imagery and analytics to the same US/UK defense and intelligence customers as Kleos; Kleos' RF layer is positioned as complementary data fused into Maxar-style workflows.
- Spire Global: Spire operates LEO smallsat constellations delivering maritime, aviation and weather data-as-a-service, including ADS-B and AIS products. Spire competes for the same DaaS budget envelope and government channel partners, and serves overlapping maritime domain awareness use cases.
- Planet Labs: Planet is a major commercial Earth-observation constellation operator serving defense and intelligence customers with daily imaging — comparable to Kleos in subscription-based satellite data delivery to government agencies.
- Iridium Communications: Iridium operates the largest commercial LEO satellite constellation with hosted RF payloads (notably Aireon). Iridium's corporate DNA — and several Kleos senior leaders' backgrounds — informs comparable data-as-a-service operating models and government sales channels.
Emerging players
- Capella Space: Capella operates a SAR smallsat constellation delivering high-resolution imagery for defense and intelligence — competing for the same ISR budget pool against which Kleos' RF geolocation data is positioned as a complementary sensor.
- ICEYE: ICEYE operates a commercial SAR satellite constellation delivering near real-time imagery to defense and government customers — competing with Kleos for ISR procurement budgets and often co-marketed as part of multi-sensor GEOINT stacks.
- BlackSky: BlackSky provides tasking-driven GEOINT and RF analytics via its own smallsat constellation and partner data layers. BlackSky's RF/SIGINT work overlaps with Kleos' tip-and-cue defense offering and competes for the same NRO/dod ISR dollars.
- Umbra Space: Umbra operates a commercial SAR constellation providing high-resolution Earth observation for defense and intelligence — drawn from the same smallsat DaaS funding ecosystem that built Kleos and competing for adjacent government ISR use cases.
Others
- ExoAnalytic Solutions: ExoAnalytic provides space domain awareness and RF tracking data services to defense and intelligence customers, including tip-and-cue analytics — adjacent to Kleos' RF geolocation mission with overlap on government ISR procurement.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Kleos Space social profiles
Digital presenceKleos Space financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kleos Space leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Kleos Space subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Kleos Space funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kleos Space M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kleos Space
What does Kleos Space do?
Kleos Space operates a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites that detect and geolocate radio frequency (RF) transmissions to deliver geospatial intelligence data products. Its core offering, Guardian LOCATE, provides customers with transmitter frequency, coordinates, reception time, and confidence parameters via a subscription-based API, serving defense, intelligence, maritime, and border security applications.
Is Kleos Space a public or private company?
Kleos Space is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Kleos Space founded?
Kleos Space was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Kleos Space based?
Kleos Space is headquartered in Esch-sur-alzette, Luxembourg, in the Europe region.
How does Kleos Space make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) Subscription is the primary driver. The others are mission-as-a-Service (MaaS) and guardian LOCATE Product Licensing.
Who are Kleos Space's main competitors?
HawkEye 360 is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Maxar Technologies, Spire Global, Planet Labs and Iridium Communications. Emerging players are Capella Space, ICEYE, BlackSky and Umbra Space. ExoAnalytic Solutions is listed as an others.
Does Kleos Space have an API?
Yes. Kleos provides a simple to use API to enable access to recent and archived data products on a recurring license basis. Data is delivered in JSON format files, making it easy to ingest into geospatial platforms. Customers can access data through a simple monthly or annual subscription, querying by time or geographic location.
What industry is Kleos Space in?
Kleos Space's product category is Geospatial Intelligence. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMANAM, Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms, with a secondary code of IMABAOAH, Space-Based Defense Systems (SSA, Missile Warning, Protected SATCOM). Its NAICS code is 5174 and its SIC code is 3760.