Defense Budgets & Spending News

SpaceNews.com

U.S. Space Command headquarters project in Alabama estimated at $4 billion

The Air Force is preparing to select a contractor to build and equip U.S. Space Command’s new headquarters in Alabama, a project now estimated to cost approximately $4 billion. The selection will advance a major military facility project, though no contractor or schedule is identified in the available report.

SpaceNews.com

Space Command’s new headquarters estimated to cost $4 billion

AeroTime

Australia commits A$2.4B to air battle system linking RAAF F-35As with missile defense

Australia’s Department of Defence announced a A$2.4 billion (about US$1.7 billion) investment over six years for a system to monitor the country’s airspace and coordinate responses to air and missile threats. The system is intended to connect Royal Australian Air Force F-35As with the missile defense network.

Reuters

High activity

Ukraine fields low-cost interceptors as Russia expands jet-drone infrastructure and the Pentagon seeks $50 billion for mass prod

Ukrainian units have received 80 interceptor drones, bought for about $3,800 each, to counter Russia’s jet-powered Shahed/Geran-4 attacks. Satellite imagery shows a new Russian launch facility with eight launch positions and 32 drone-preparation areas, while U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the Pentagon wants $50 billion to scale autonomous-weapons stocks into the millions.

European Spaceflight

20 European governments approve up to €24 billion for joint military SPACE program; Spain advances €65.8 million for PAZ 2 spy s

A coalition of 20 European governments has approved plans for a military space program intended to build sovereign orbital defense capabilities, alongside a joint orbital-tracking pact. Separately, Spain has brought forward €65.8 million in funding for Hisdesat’s PAZ 2 spy satellite program.

Breaking Defense

US military should consume 100,000 drones in training next year to build combat value, DCMA colonel argues

Col. Dustin Thomas of the Defense Contract Management Agency argues the US military should push industry to deliver 100,000 drones for use next year. The goal, he writes, is to balance inventory against training consumption so forces gain the greatest combat value for the money.

Breaking Defense

Army says HADES spy-plane program remains on cost and schedule, but budget impasse threatens plans

Army G-2 Andrew Evans told Breaking Defense that the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program is currently “completely” on cost and schedule. He warned that a continuing resolution could complicate plans for production, putting progress at risk amid the budget impasse.

Reuters

High activity

AEVEX’s Specter is a jet-powered, one-way attack drone pitched for low-cost, multi-mission use

AEVEX says its turbojet-powered Specter is designed for single-use attack missions but can also carry cameras, jamming equipment and other payloads. The platform’s proposed non-kinetic roles broaden its potential mission set, as militaries and governments focus on one-way attack drones and other small uncrewed systems.