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Space Development Agency’s first satellites demo key capabilities
This week’s test involved two satellites, built by SpaceX, exchanging data via a laser-communication link.
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Space
Space Force to field sensors for tracking air, ground targets in 2030s
The Space Force has started to invest in early studies of the capability, but Guetlein declined to confirm whether a program would be funded in FY26.
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Securing US space assets is busting the Air Force budget, Kendall says
Money for space "is going to need to double or triple over time,” the Air Force secretary said in an interview, with a resilient architecture top of mind.
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Trump promises to launch Space National Guard if elected
The Republican nominee for president said he will push for a dedicated National Guard branch for space missions if he is re-elected.
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LeoLabs sees defense business grow as space-tracking needs multiply
The company's CEO, Tony Frazier, said the firm now serves mostly defense customer in the U.S. and abroad.
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This system may allow small Army teams to probe 1,000 targets per hour
One goal of using the Maven targeting system is for a team of 20 or fewer to be able to identify and strike 1,000 targets per hour.
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Reliant on Starlink, Army eager for more SATCOM constellation options
Army officials said at TechNet Augusta that the service wants to ensure its units have access to multiple satellite connectivity options.
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Missile Defense Agency eyes discriminating space sensor launch by 2029
The MDA director told Defense News the sensor is a key part of the agency's vision for a space-based missile-tracking layer.
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Defense Science Board calls for greater commercial space tech adoption
A new report calls on the Space Force to integrate commercial technology wherever possible — from wargaming exercises to budgets and acquisition plans.
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Lockheed acquires satellite firm Terran Orbital in $450 million deal
Lockheed already owns one-third of the firm due to its satellite production contracts and investments made in Terran through its venture capital arm.
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Space Force, allies craft global supply chain strategy
Space Force says the strategy could be completed in within the next year.
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Air Force Research Lab eyes space data transport demo in 2026
The Air Force Research Lab is working with the Space Warfighting Analysis Center and the Defense Innovation Unit to test space data transport concepts.
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Space Force mulling nuclear protection for missile-tracking satellites
The study could drive changes to future tranches of Space Development Agency and Space Systems Command satellites.
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Space Force missile warning competition robust despite RTX exit
Col. Rob Davis, who oversees space sensing programs, said, "There’s no shortage of competition in the market."
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Sweden angles to fill a void in NATO’s space plans
The Swedish government has adopted the country’s first-ever defense and security space strategy, which seeks to make Stockholm a space hub for allies.
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Ariane 6 launch returns in-house space access to Europe’s armed forces
The new rocket has an order book for 30 launches, according to Caroline Arnoux, head of the Ariane 6 program at Arianespace.
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Russia wants 2,600 satellites in orbit by 2036. Is this realistic?
Notably the country aims to put Sfera communications satellites into orbit — an analogue of the Starlink and OneWeb constellations.
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