Defense

A collection of 167 posts

Defense

Mitchell Institute Warns Space Force Faces Data Bottleneck Without Laser Comms

A new report argues the Space Force risks drowning in sensor data unless it moves faster to pair radio frequency communications with optical, or laser, systems. The 37-page analysis warns that legacy networks cannot handle the data volumes coming from hundreds of planned satellites, potentially slowing future operations. The

Defense

Pentagon Names Musk, Luckey and Gingrich to Lead 120-Day Study on Space Warfare

The United States has launched a new effort to map the future of warfare with space at its center. Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Project Meridian on September 30, naming Elon Musk, Anduril founder Palmer Luckey and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich as co-leaders under Pentagon Chief Technology Officer Emil

Defense

Avio USA Breaks Ground on 900,000-Square-Foot Solid Rocket Motor Plant in Virginia

Avio USA has broken ground on its first U.S. solid rocket motor facility in Hurt, Virginia, a 900,000-square-foot plant designed to produce thousands of motors annually for American tactical missile programs. Production is targeted to begin in early 2029, marking a new large-scale domestic entrant

Defense

Northrop Grumman Delivers 21 Transport Layer Satellites to Vandenberg for Space Force Constellation

Northrop Grumman said on Monday it has delivered 21 satellites to Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, for Tranche 1 of the Space Development Agency's Transport Layer. The delivery moves the batch toward launch staging as the Pentagon builds out its proliferated low Earth orbit constellation for military communications.

Satellites

Chinese Researchers Signal First In-Orbit Refuelling of a BeiDou Satellite

Chinese researchers appear to have disclosed a previously unknown satellite-to-satellite refuelling operation in high Earth orbit, involving a BeiDou navigation satellite. The disclosure, contained in a paper undergoing peer review, points to a demonstration of a technology that could reshape the space race and carries potential military implications.

Defense

Space Force Sets 2027 Flights for Two Commercial Satellite Servicing Demonstrations

The U.S. Space Force will execute two commercial satellite servicing demonstration missions in 2027 to evaluate in-orbit refueling and maneuvering for high-value defense payloads. Col. Scott Carstetter, director of servicing, mobility, and logistics at Space Systems Command, outlined the plans during an industry webinar on Sept. 23,

Launch

Space Force Clears Falcon 9 for USSF-385 Launch From Vandenberg

The U.S. Space Force has approved a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch of the USSF-385 mission early Saturday from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base. The primary launch window opens at 7 a.m. Saturday, September 26, with a backup opportunity Sunday at 5:49

Defense

Space Force Missile-Tracking Satellites Clear Design Reviews Across Two Orbits

Three missile-tracking satellite programs have cleared key design reviews as the U.S. Space Force builds out new sensor constellations in low and medium Earth orbit. The milestone marks progress on an architecture intended to detect and track missile threats from space. The Space Force is developing missile-tracking

Defense

Space Force Reboots Commercial Software Lab With Longer Timelines, New Focus

The US Space Force's commercial software laboratory is preparing to welcome its first participants since a significant overhaul, positioning itself as the successor to the earlier SDA TAP Lab effort. The revamped program carries a new name, extended timelines, and rotating focus areas, all aimed at pushing commercial

Defense

UK Stands Up First Squadron Built to Fight in Orbit

Britain will launch No III Space Effects Squadron, its first Royal Air Force unit dedicated to both offensive and defensive space operations. The unit, unveiled at the inaugural UK Space Power Conference in London, will protect satellites, warn of incoming missile attacks, and support operations in orbit, marking a formal

Markets

Space Force Awards Impulse Space Up to $31.2 Million for 2029 Orbital Surveillance Mission

The U.S. Space Force has awarded Impulse Space a contract worth up to $31.2 million for a space domain awareness mission scheduled for 2029. The mission will use an optical sensor in low Earth orbit to monitor objects as far away as geosynchronous orbit. The order adds to

Defense

Katalyst Selected for Pentagon Program to Demonstrate Space-Based Power Beaming

Katalyst Space has been selected by a Pentagon energy investment program to develop and launch a robotic spacecraft capable of assembling a large-format power beaming system on orbit and transmitting power back to Earth. The company announced the selection Monday, working alongside the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. The

Defense

Pentagon Sets Two-Stage Path for Golden Dome Missile Shield, Full Defense by 2035

The Pentagon will field an initial Golden Dome missile shield in 2028 using existing military systems before shifting to a purpose-built architecture for homeland defense by 2035, according to Gen. Michael Guetlein, who leads the program. The phased approach signals a staged, decade-long commitment rather than a near-

Markets

Sedaro Wins Up to $45 Million to Expand Space Force Mission Analysis Software

Space software company Sedaro will receive up to $45 million in government funding to expand a platform that helps the U.S. Space Force analyze how different satellites, sensors and other capabilities perform together. The award marks a substantial government commitment to a software-focused space vendor. The funding supports

Policy

Space Force to Field New Counter-Drone Systems at Cape Canaveral

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station will receive new defenses against small drones in the coming weeks, part of a broader government effort to protect the nation's spaceports. The move comes as the White House pushes for hundreds more launches per year and officials identify drone incursions as a

Defense

Space Force to Prototype Software Fusing Commercial and Military Space Tracking Data

The Space Force plans to develop new prototype software that automates the integration of commercial and military space tracking data, aiming to deliver more timely and more accurate information on objects in orbit. The service intends to launch the prototype software environment later this fall. Mission Delta 2, which organizes,

Defense

Joint Chiefs Chairman Names Cislunar Space as a Warfighting Domain

The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff told a Washington conference that American forces must prepare for combat not only in Earth's orbit but around the moon. Gen. Dan Caine's remarks mark a sharp escalation in official rhetoric, coming days after the US acknowledged

Policy

China Warns of Space Arms Race After US Confirms Weapons in Orbit

China called on the United States to halt its military expansion in outer space after a senior Pentagon official acknowledged that Washington has weapons deployed in orbit. Beijing warned the disclosure could trigger a global arms race and undermine strategic stability. The Chinese response followed the strongest acknowledgement yet by

Policy

New Space Force Chief Warns Stopgap Budget Stalls 10 Percent of Programs

Roughly one in ten of the Space Force's programs cannot move forward under the continuing resolution now in effect, the service's new top uniformed official said. Gen. Douglas Schiess, sworn in as chief of space operations on Sept. 3, warned that the funding measure set to

Markets

LeoLabs to Sell Scout-S Mobile Radar Directly to Allied Nations

LeoLabs is preparing to sell its new Scout-S mobile phased-array radar directly to allied nations, a departure from a business model built on selling space-tracking data. The move reflects rising sovereign demand for space domain awareness and gives smaller nations a route to stand up their own

Defense

New Space Force Chief Ties Guardians Directly to Combat in Operation Epic Fury

Gen. Douglas Schiess, in one of his first public appearances after swearing in as Chief of Space Operations, said Guardians played a critical role in U.S. operations against Iran, delivering electronic warfare effects to suppress enemy air defenses and communications. The remarks, made at the AFA Air, Space and

Defense

Blue Origin Gains Access to Historic Air Force Propulsion Hardware Under Expanded CRADA

Blue Origin and the Air Force Research Laboratory's Rocket and Space Propulsion Division at Edwards Air Force Base have signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to transfer advanced rocket propulsion hardware and engineering artifacts to the company. The agreement gives Blue Origin access to material from AFRL&

Defense

Air Force Secretary Confirms US Has On-Orbit Space Control Weapons

The U.S. Department of the Air Force has deployed on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the joint force against hostile adversary action, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced Monday. The statement marks the most direct public acknowledgment by a U.S. official to date regarding space control

Policy

EU Commission Seeks to Devote Half of 131-Billion-Euro Defense and Space Budget to Space

The European Commission wants space programs to receive 50 percent of its proposed seven-year military and space budget of 131 billion euros ($152.3 billion), Defence and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said in Paris. The allocation would channel roughly 65 billion euros to space over the 2028 to 2034

Defense

Antares Wins $161M Space Force Award to Demonstrate Nuclear Reactor in Orbit

Antares has been selected for a $161 million Strategic Breakthrough award to advance nuclear power for space, the company announced September 11. The selection, made by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, marks the largest current Department of War award in