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SpaceNews.com • Debra Werner

SmallSat Europe: Defense-budget momentum won’t fix Europe’s smallsat bottlenecks without cutting red tape and unlocking capital

Panelists at SmallSat Europe said rising European military budgets could create demand for space capabilities from entrepreneurial smallsat firms, but regulatory burdens and limited access to capital remain major blockers. The sector’s growth depends on clearing bureaucratic roadblocks to convert spending into investable, scalable programs.

2026-05-26T10:05:53.544149-07:00

SpaceNews.com

US Space Force awards $437.6M Protected Tactical Satcom-Global contracts to Viasat and SES through 2029

2026-05-22T16:31:01.439487-07:00

Wall Street Journal

SpaceX: U.S. federal agencies drive ~20% of revenue—boosting contracts while exposing revenue concentration risk

2026-05-20T19:38:19.735080-07:00

Air & Space Forces Mag

Space Force study says ~1,000 launches (FY27-31) likely requires a third heavy-lift launch site

2026-05-20T11:09:11.885625-07:00

News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

SmallSat Europe: Defense-budget momentum won’t fix Europe’s smallsat bottlenecks without cutting red tape and unlocking capital Panelists at SmallSat Europe said rising European military budgets could create demand for space capabilities from entrepreneurial smallsat firms, but regulatory burdens and limited access to capital remain major blockers. The sector’s growth depends on clearing bureaucratic roadblocks to convert spending into investable, scalable programs.

2026-05-26T10:05:53.544149-07:00

SmallSat Europe: Defense-budget momentum won’t fix Europe’s smallsat bottlenecks without cutting red tape and unlocking capital

SpaceNews.com

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US Space Force awards $437.6M Protected Tactical Satcom-Global contracts to Viasat and SES through 2029 The U.S. Space Force awarded Viasat and SES combined $437.6 million to build communications satellites for Protected Tactical Satcom–Global, a network intended to resist jamming and cyber attacks. The program replaces vulnerable single-satellite architectures with four new GEO satellites under contracts through 2029.

2026-05-22T16:31:01.439487-07:00

US Space Force awards $437.6M Protected Tactical Satcom-Global contracts to Viasat and SES through 2029

AeroTime

Australia opens AUD 200M facility at RAAF Base Edinburgh to sustain P-8A Poseidon Australia has opened a AUD 200 million (US$130 million) maintenance and sustainment facility at RAAF Base Edinburgh, positioned as a regional hub for P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft support. The site is intended to expand sustainment capacity for the RAAF’s P-8A fleet across maintenance and sustainment functions.

2026-05-22T04:53:53.624360-07:00

Australia opens AUD 200M facility at RAAF Base Edinburgh to sustain P-8A Poseidon

Reuters

Lockheed breaks ground on THAAD munitions production center in Troy, Alabama Lockheed Martin broke ground on an 87,000-square-foot Munitions Production Center in Troy, Alabama, aimed at accelerating THAAD interceptor production for the U.S. and allied customers. The company said the site is part of a broader $9B-plus investment through 2030 across more than 20 U.S. facilities, with plans to double capacity and add jobs.

2026-05-21T14:24:14.316151-07:00

Lockheed breaks ground on THAAD munitions production center in Troy, Alabama

DefenseNews.com

USAF calls MQ-9 Reaper the “MVP” in Epic Fury as lawmakers weigh manned-unmanned priorities Air Force leaders told Congress the remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper was a “workhorse” in the U.S. air campaign against Iran, even as the fiscal 2027 budget request continues to concentrate aircraft funding in crewed fighters. The testimony comes alongside new industry work on expendable autonomous drone engines, including GE426 proposals.

2026-05-21T11:10:25.711914-07:00

USAF calls MQ-9 Reaper the “MVP” in Epic Fury as lawmakers weigh manned-unmanned priorities

Wall Street Journal

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SpaceX: U.S. federal agencies drive ~20% of revenue—boosting contracts while exposing revenue concentration risk Spending by U.S. federal agencies accounted for about 20% of SpaceX revenue last year, underscoring how closely the company is tied to government procurement while it continues building non-government customer bases. The revenue mix simultaneously strengthens cash-flow visibility and raises exposure if federal demand or contract terms shift.

2026-05-20T19:38:19.735080-07:00

SpaceX: U.S. federal agencies drive ~20% of revenue—boosting contracts while exposing revenue concentration risk

Air & Space Forces Mag

Space Force study says ~1,000 launches (FY27-31) likely requires a third heavy-lift launch site A U.S. Space Force infrastructure study, led by deputy for Strategy, Plans, Programs and Requirements Lt. Gen. David Miller, concludes the service will “probably” need an additional heavy-launch site to handle surging throughput. Miller cited demand for roughly 1,000 Space Force launches between fiscal 2027 and 2031.

2026-05-20T11:09:11.885625-07:00

Space Force study says ~1,000 launches (FY27-31) likely requires a third heavy-lift launch site

Breaking Defense

Sen. Budd pushes NDAA-backed multi-year buys for F-35 and F-15EX plus pilot retention measures North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis Budd is sponsoring a trio of bills aimed at boosting fighter-jet inventory and retaining pilots, with implications for multi-year procurement plans that could shape future U.S. Air Force force structure. The effort is positioned as adding airpower support through the NDAA pipeline.

2026-05-18T06:39:14.032488-07:00

Sen. Budd pushes NDAA-backed multi-year buys for F-35 and F-15EX plus pilot retention measures

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Defense Budgets & Spending News

SmallSat Europe: Defense-budget momentum won’t fix Europe’s smallsat bottlenecks without cutting red tape and unlocking capital

US Space Force awards $437.6M Protected Tactical Satcom-Global contracts to Viasat and SES through 2029

SpaceX: U.S. federal agencies drive ~20% of revenue—boosting contracts while exposing revenue concentration risk

Space Force study says ~1,000 launches (FY27-31) likely requires a third heavy-lift launch site

News Timeline