DOMAIN
Military space, satellite constellations, launchers, and space-based ISR.
38 articles indexed · 35 in archive
HawkEye 360 received an NRO award for sustained use of its commercial RF sensing data. The deal supports space-based signals intelligence collection. A notable commercial-military space intelligence contract.
Ukraine struck a Roscosmos rocket facility in a long-range attack. The strike targets Russian space and missile production infrastructure. Highlights Ukraine's expanding deep-strike reach.
Ukraine's satellites are providing targeting and connectivity that drive its war drones. The article details space-to-battlefield integration. Highlights the role of space assets in drone operations.
The European Union has expanded the IRIS² constellation to 348 spacecraft. The revised architecture adds 66 satellites. IRIS² is intended to support defence, security and emergency-service communications. The expansion strengthens Europe’s planned sovereign secure-connectivity capacity.
US officials have awarded contracts to three smaller firms alongside a SpaceX aircraft-tracking satellite effort. The approach diversifies potential providers of space-based aircraft tracking. Multiple vendors can reduce technical and schedule risk for the program. The awards support resilient orbital surveillance and tracking architectures.
Northrop Grumman expects national-security space sales to exceed $7 billion. The outlook is driven by US missile-defense and satellite-servicing demand. The forecast indicates continued investment in orbital sensing, space resilience and defense support systems. It also reflects the growing space component of US integrated missile defense.
The UK will stand up its first offensive space squadrons, marking a national first in orbital warfare capability. The move signals a shift from defensive space posture toward active counterspace operations. It aligns with NATO allies developing similar capabilities. Details on assets and doctrine were partially disclosed.
The Pentagon raised the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 ceiling by $11.4 billion, quadrupling the launch budget. The surge reflects surging demand from SDA, MDA and NRO. SpaceX, ULA and Blue Origin stand to benefit. It underscores space as warfighting domain.
York Space Systems launched 21 additional satellites for the Space Development Agency's Tranche 1 Transport Layer. The batch expands proliferated LEO military mesh network. It supports beyond-line-of-sight targeting and comms. SDA is building resilient warfighting space architecture.
The Space Development Agency is resuming satellite launches after delays and GAO watchdog criticism. The next launch will deploy the second plane of York Space Systems' Transport Layer tranche. The proliferated LEO constellation is central to JADC2 and hypersonic tracking. SDA aims to restore its aggressive launch cadence.
Rheinmetall and Space Norway have signed a partnership on satellite-based maritime domain awareness. The agreement targets the Arctic and North Atlantic regions. The system will provide persistent surveillance for NATO operations. It reflects growing focus on high-north security amid Russian activity.
L3Harris and Sierra Space secured a combined $1.75 billion from the Space Development Agency for Tranche 3 Tracking Layer satellites. The award expands the proliferated LEO missile-warning and missile-tracking constellation. Delivery supports hypersonic threat detection over the coming years.
L3Harris secured a $955 million contract to build 18 missile-tracking satellites for the Space Development Agency's Tranche 3 Tracking Layer, supporting the Golden Dome missile shield. The award is part of a broader $1.75 billion SDA package also involving Sierra Space. Deliveries will bolster infrared missile warning and tracking. It represents a major architecture milestone for US homeland missile defense.
Lockheed Martin won a $105 million contract to operate the GPS ground control system. Award sustains constellation command and control operations. Includes cyber hardening upgrades. Supports GPS III and IIIF spacecraft on orbit.
Germany's military is developing a sovereign LEO satellite constellation as a national alternative to Starlink. Program aims for secure, jam-resistant tactical broadband. Bundeswehr will lead architecture with German industry participation. Reflects European push for space communications autonomy.
The US Space Force added two new companies to its $5.6 billion NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 launch program. Expansion brings total providers to seven. Additions broaden launch options for national security payloads. Lane 1 focuses on more commercial-style, risk-tolerant missions.
Finnish SAR satellite firm ICEYE established a German entity to expand sovereign space-based intelligence services in Europe. Move supports Bundeswehr and European customers seeking assured GEOINT. ICEYE operates the world's largest commercial SAR constellation. Local operations may include German satellite manufacturing.
York Space and All.Space closed their acquisition and outlined a resilient military communications vision. Combined entity offers satellite buses and multi-beam ground terminals. Focus is on proliferated LEO connectivity for tactical users. Company targets DoD SDA and Space Force contracts.
BAE Systems received a $16 million DoD investment to expand domestic radiation-hardened microelectronics production. The funding supports semiconductor capacity for space and strategic systems requiring survivability against radiation. The investment strengthens U.S. supply chain resilience for military-grade chips. Expansion will occur at BAE's Manassas, Virginia facility.
BlackSky received new U.S. R&D contracts to develop Gen-3 AI tools for real-time space-based tactical ISR. The Gen-3 satellite constellation will offer sub-meter resolution and rapid revisit times. Onboard AI processing will enable faster targeting and pattern-of-life analysis. The awards strengthen commercial space ISR integration with DoD operations.
NATO allies have launched the HALO satellite initiative to strengthen military space connectivity, intelligence, and missile tracking. The programme aims to reduce dependence on U.S. space assets while building resilient allied capabilities. It addresses growing demand for space-based ISR and warning against ballistic and hypersonic threats. Participating nations and industry primes are being finalized.
US Army officially established a Space Operations Branch to formalise space careers and integrate space effects into multidomain operations. Move institutionalises Army space cadre supporting SATCOM, ISR and PNT. Complements Space Force role with tactical ground-focused expertise. Major structural shift for Army modernization.
Congressional marks retain full funding for the Deep-Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) despite programme struggles. DARC will provide 24/7 GEO-belt surveillance across three global sites. AUKUS partners UK and Australia host additional radars. Sustains critical space domain awareness build-out.
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