Forty years ago, the U.S. government made a decision that transformed the modern world: it opened the global positioning system (GPS) to civilian use. What began as military technology has become the foundation for countless innovations that we now take for granted – from turn-by-turn navigation to precision agriculture to emergency response systems. Today, GPS contributes hundreds of billions of dollars per year to the global economy while maintaining America’s technological leadership.

We find ourselves at a similar crossroads with another transformative space technology: synthetic aperture radar (SAR). These advanced satellites can image Earth through clouds and darkness, providing critical data for a wide range of applications. From improving agricultural yields to accelerating disaster response while providing critical capabilities for dual-use missions, the potential benefits are vast and exciting.

As considered by the US government new export regulations under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) for commercial SAR technology, we have the opportunity to learn from the GPS experience. The proposed rules would limit U.S. companies to exporting SAR systems with a maximum bandwidth of 500 MHz, well below the 1,200 MHz that has become the global trade standard. Artificially limiting US exports to 500 MHz would be like trying to sell yesterday’s technology into tomorrow’s market.

The justification for this proposition is curious. Although SAR offers unique capabilities that could be misused, the reality is that commercial vendors in Finland, France, Germany, Italy and China are actively selling 1200 MHz systems globally . In fact, the 500 MHz limit appears to be based on outdated assumptions about what constitutes a militarily significant capability. In today’s world, where 1200 MHz systems are commercially available from multiple sources, this restriction inadvertently disadvantages U.S. industry without meaningfully controlling access to the technology.

Indeed, the proposed rules would create a highly unusual situation: U.S. companies can currently provide 1200 MHz SAR data services to customers around the world, but would be severely limited in being able to export the systems themselves ( except to certain allies such as Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom). – even as U.S.-based customers import data and systems that operate at the same frequency from foreign providers. The ITAR’s proposed restrictions would therefore do little to control access to technology, while potentially ceding U.S. leadership in this critical area.

This would be a missed opportunity, if only for the simple reason that American companies have developed innovative approaches that set them apart from their global competitors. For example, US companies like ours have developed fully automated systems capable of providing SAR data to users in a fraction of the time compared to traditional methods. This speed and reliability make American SAR technology particularly valuable for time-sensitive applications.

The previous GPS shows us a better way forward. When GPS was opened to civilian use, this did not diminish its military value. Instead, commercial adoption has driven innovation and cost reduction while making GPS a critical global infrastructure – with the United States maintaining its position as a technological leader. The same opportunity exists with SAR.

By enabling American companies to fully compete in the global marketplace, we can ensure that American innovation continues to lead the way in SAR technology and retains the ability to align industry investments with international markets. and the American government. This would strengthen our relationships with our allies, support humanitarian efforts around the world, and maintain our technological edge through market-driven advancements rather than restrictions.

As our nation considers the proposed ITAR regulations on SAR systems, we must remember the lesson of GPS: the best way to maintain American leadership in space technology is not through restrictions, but through adoption of commercial innovation while maintaining appropriate safeguards. By allowing U.S. companies to compete with the current global standard of 1200 MHz, we can ensure that SAR technology develops in a way that serves both our national security and commercial interests.

The comment period on these proposed regulations ends on November 22. As industry leaders and policymakers consider the path forward, we have an opportunity to position American companies at the forefront of this transformative technology – just as we did with GPS 40 years ago. GPS is considered the reference on a global scale; Let’s work together to position American SAR as the benchmark in its field as well. The choice we make today will determine whether the United States leads or follows the next generation of Earth observation from space.

Frank Backes is CEO of Capella Space, a US provider of SAR satellite systems and data.

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