Windward and Vantor are trying to solve one of the biggest challenges in maritime surveillance: blind spots in global vessel tracking caused by disconnected data systems.
To do this, the two firms are integrating Vantor’s space-based Sentry monitoring system with Windward’s Maritime artificial intelligence platform.
The result is an intelligence layer that shifts maritime domain awareness (MDA) from reactive analysis toward a continuous decision-support framework.
MDA has long been constrained by fragmented sensors and separate workflows, with detection, identification, and behavioral analysis split across different systems.
As a result, analysts often need to manually correlate data from automatic identification system (AIS), radio frequency (RF), synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and electro-optical (EO) sources.
The partnership aims to reduce that friction by embedding Sentry into Windward’s platform, linking vessel monitoring into a continuous intelligence flow.
“From the Indo-Pacific to the Arctic, maritime activity is becoming more contested and complex, and adversaries are exploiting the seams between sensors,” said Peter Wilczynski, chief product officer at Vantor.
“Windward has built a powerful intelligence layer that unifies maritime signals, and with Sentry, we’re adding the orchestration and identity layer that closes that gap to create an end-to-end monitoring system.”
Layered Tracking
Sentry is an automated monitoring system that coordinates multiple satellites to continuously scan maritime areas using EO and SAR imagery.
When radars detect a potential target, the system can automatically task EO imaging to confirm what is being observed without manual input.
Its AI-powered fingerprinting capability then generates a unique identity for each ship based on imagery-derived characteristics.
This allows vessels to be tracked across sensors, time, and geography, even when they attempt to go dark by disabling tracking signals.
Windward combines these fingerprints with AIS and RF data to create a unified operational picture linking vessel detection, identity, and behavior worldwide.
Together, the systems aim to support a more unified maritime awareness picture for defense agencies, law enforcement, and commercial operators, helping surface potential threats earlier.
