Six Free Satellite Imagery Tools Every OSINT & Defence Analyst Should Know

Open-source satellite imagery has become a core instrument for modern defence analysis, verification, and investigative reporting. From tracking battlefield damage to monitoring military infrastructure, today’s analysts no longer rely on a single imagery source. Instead, they combine multiple free platforms—each optimized for a specific task.

Here is a practical, defence-focused breakdown of the six most useful free satellite imagery tools, when to use them, and why they matter.

1) Google Earth Pro

Best for: Historical context & long-term change detection

Google Earth Pro remains the backbone of OSINT imagery work. Its historical imagery slider allows analysts to scroll back through time and identify when changes occurred—destroyed aircraft, new buildings, cleared terrain, or damaged infrastructure.

Why it matters for defence:

• Establishes timelines of destruction or construction
• Identifies pre- and post-strike conditions
• In some locations, imagery goes back decades (including WWII-era aerial photos)

Rule: never rely on a single date—always check older imagery.

2) Copernicus Browser

Best for: Multispectral analysis, fires, floods & activity through clouds

Operated by the European Space Agency, Copernicus provides free access to Sentinel satellite data. This is not just “pictures”—it’s analytical data.

Key capabilities:

• SWIR (Short-Wave Infrared): detects fires, burn scars, moisture
• NDVI: measures vegetation health (useful for scorched or cleared zones)
• Radar (Sentinel-1): sees through cloud cover and smoke

For defence and security reporting, this is essential when optical imagery is obscured or when identifying environmental signatures of conflict.

3) Esri World Imagery Wayback

Best for: High-resolution before/after comparison

Wayback provides archived high-resolution basemaps, with a swipe feature that allows rapid visual comparison between dates. This is extremely effective for:

• Monitoring air bases
• Tracking new military construction
• Identifying asset movement

Critical tip: the displayed year is not always the capture date—always click the imagery metadata.

4) ArcGIS Map Viewer

Best for: Latest high-resolution imagery + layered geospatial data

ArcGIS Map Viewer unlocks access to some of the clearest free satellite basemaps available, often at 30 cm resolution. It also integrates dozens of geospatial layers via Living Atlas.

Defence value:

• Detailed views of defensive positions, airfields, naval bases
• Metadata transparency (date, provider, resolution)
• Ability to overlay additional datasets for strategic context

This is where tactical-level visual analysis becomes possible without paid access.

5) Apple Maps

Best for: Alternative angles & 3D urban analysis

Often overlooked, Apple Maps provides:

• Distinct satellite sources from Google
• High-quality 3D city models (where available)
• Useful shadows and building geometry

Limited geographic coverage, but valuable for geolocation, line-of-sight analysis, and understanding building height and camera angles.

6) Bing Maps

Best for: Aerial (not satellite) imagery

Bing Maps’ aerial view can deliver detail far beyond standard satellite imagery—especially over military facilities.

Why analysts use it:

• Exceptional clarity over naval bases and airfields
• Aircraft carriers, deck layouts, and infrastructure details become visible
• Provides an independent perspective for verification

Which Tool Should You Use and When?

A practical OSINT framework:

• Historical timeline: Google Earth Pro
• Spectral & cloud-penetrating analysis: Copernicus Browser
• Before/after comparison: Esri Wayback
• Latest high-resolution view: ArcGIS Map Viewer
• Urban 3D & alternative angles: Apple Maps
• Aerial detail: Bing Maps

In real investigations, analysts typically use two or three tools together to avoid confirmation bias and ensure accuracy.

Why This Matters for Defence Analysis

Modern conflict analysis, arms monitoring, and military infrastructure reporting increasingly depend on open-source verification. These six platforms—used correctly—allow analysts, journalists, and defence professionals to:

• Validate claims without classified access
• Track military activity responsibly
• Strengthen credibility through transparent sourcing

And importantly: all of them are free.

For defence journalism, OSINT investigations, and strategic monitoring, knowing which satellite tool to reach for—and when—has become a core skill.