Satellite imaging methods used by the U.S. National Security will now be used to help give the air combat title Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. more graphical realism.

Publisher Ubisoft said Tuesday it has partnered with geospatial information provider GeoEye, which will provide hi-res Earth images from its commercial IKONOS satellite for use as backdrops in the flight game, slated for release in early 2009.

GeoEye marketing VP Mark Brender said in a statement, "High-resolution satellite imaging is moving from the black world of intelligence to the white world of commerce and Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X will bring that reality to gamers."

Ubisoft says the images will be given depth with the help of the U.S. Geological Survey and the Center for Earth Resources Observations and Science. The organizations are helping the developer create a realistic topographical "underpinning" for the flat images.

According to a press statement, the IKONOS satellite has been used for "U.S. national security, mapping, air and marine transportation, environmental monitoring and insurance risk management."

IKONOS began snapping images in late 1999. Some of the satellite's images can be seen here.