Answering a call for help from Ukraine in March 2022, MDA secured that permission.
“We’re honoured that we are able to use our radar satellite capabilities to contribute to these international efforts, and will continue doing everything in our power to help the government of Ukraine protect its citizens,” MDA chief executive Mike Greenley wrote in a statement at the time.
In a recent email exchange with The Logic, MDA vice-president Amy MacLeod said the contribution is over.
“That authorization has expired and we are not currently distributing imagery of this area,” she wrote. Permission lapsed more than two years ago, she added—meaning it lasted only about a year. “Immediate requirements were met and there was no need for MDA Space to seek an extension to the authorization.”
“In order to continue activities beyond a period of duration specified by a licence, it is the licensee’s obligation to make a request to the regulatory section of Global Affairs Canada,” Global Affairs spokesperson Clémence Grevey wrote in an email. “Canada’s support for Ukraine in defending itself against Russia’s illegal invasion remains firm.”
Sounds like both MDA and the feds dropped the ball here and the article doesn’t say why. Did MDA donate the first year free? Did the feds only pay for a year? Or did MDA and the feds back off because America took over the job?
More info is required to tell us why this happened.
“Immediate requirements were met and there was no need for MDA Space to seek an extension to the authorization.”
This may answer the question. The need for more of their sat photos was no longer required. Whether that means Ukraine was relying on other intel that may have been better/easier to access/etc… who knows?
But it seems like they could have requested ongoing authorization, if the need was there.
