News

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Space Force demand surge pressures heavy-lift launch market as certified providers remain limited

The U.S. Space Force is sharply increasing its demand for the most capable rocket launches, intensifying pressure on a heavy-lift market that currently has just two certified providers. The shift raises the stakes for launch capacity, assured access, and schedule certainty across defense-relevant payloads.

2026-04-25T09:24:28.047738-07:00

DefenseNews.com

Northrop could win up to $85B for GBSD next-gen ICBMs, targeting an earlier fielding via accelerated contracting

2026-04-25T10:05:28.328266-07:00

aviationnews.eu

Vietnam weighs Su-57 stealth fighters and Rafale to replace aging Soviet-era fleet; Russia’s Su-57 force remains limited (20–25

2026-04-24T02:34:21.899035-07:00

European Spaceflight

Rheinmetall to establish satellite testing facility in Andøya, Norway

2026-04-25T04:34:27.650016-07:00

News Timeline

DefenseNews.com

Northrop could win up to $85B for GBSD next-gen ICBMs, targeting an earlier fielding via accelerated contracting Northrop is positioned to receive an approximately $85 billion award for the U.S. Air Force’s Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program earlier than expected, contingent on continued access to secure facilities. The timing would compress the path to next‑generation ICBM production and deployment.

2026-04-25T10:05:28.328266-07:00

Northrop could win up to $85B for GBSD next-gen ICBMs, targeting an earlier fielding via accelerated contracting

DefenseNews.com

US Air Force to spend $25M on WaRTAK multidomain convoy communications and situational awareness upgrade The US Air Force will award $25 million for new hardware under its WaRTAK program, which combines multidomain communications with a situational awareness system in a single package to support convoys while on the move.

2026-04-25T10:05:26.047547-07:00

US Air Force to spend $25M on WaRTAK multidomain convoy communications and situational awareness upgrade

SpaceNews.com

Space Force demand surge pressures heavy-lift launch market as certified providers remain limited The U.S. Space Force is sharply increasing its demand for the most capable rocket launches, intensifying pressure on a heavy-lift market that currently has just two certified providers. The shift raises the stakes for launch capacity, assured access, and schedule certainty across defense-relevant payloads.

2026-04-25T09:24:28.047738-07:00

Space Force demand surge pressures heavy-lift launch market as certified providers remain limited

European Spaceflight

Rheinmetall to establish satellite testing facility in Andøya, Norway Rheinmetall has signed a Letter of Intent to establish a new satellite testing facility in Andøya, Norway. The agreement aims to expand the company’s Nordic space and defense-industrial test footprint, aligning with broader efforts to scale satellite-related experimentation and validation work.

2026-04-25T04:34:27.650016-07:00

Rheinmetall to establish satellite testing facility in Andøya, Norway

DefenseNews.com

Pentagon: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter gun remains on schedule for 2017 operational fielding The Pentagon’s F-35 Program Office said the fighter’s gun is still on track to become operational in 2017. The statement keeps the weapons system timeline intact amid ongoing program activity around F-35 software and mission system upgrade delivery.

2026-04-25T00:50:54.219227-07:00

Pentagon: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter gun remains on schedule for 2017 operational fielding

DefenseNews.com

India’s defence secretary in Paris to accelerate MMRCA Rafale negotiations Indian Defence Secretary Radha Krishna Mathur is in Paris Monday and Tuesday to help speed negotiations on the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program, an Indian Defence Ministry source said. The discussions come amid ongoing Rafale acquisition steps and continued focus on meeting New Delhi’s air-power requirements.

2026-04-25T00:50:53.485684-07:00

India’s defence secretary in Paris to accelerate MMRCA Rafale negotiations

Air Data News

USAF extends life of B-1B and B-2 fleets, budgets nearly $1.7B for upgrades as B-21 transition slips The U.S. Air Force is planning nearly $1.7 billion in upgrades to keep the Rockwell B-1B Lancer and Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit bombers flying longer than the service previously targeted for an early-2030s retirement. The shift reflects how the B-21 transition schedule has stretched.

2026-04-24T22:57:04.210342-07:00

USAF extends life of B-1B and B-2 fleets, budgets nearly $1.7B for upgrades as B-21 transition slips

Bloomberg

SpaceX tapped to help build software “operating system” for Trump’s Golden Dome SpaceX has been pulled into an industry group developing the software “operating system” underpinning President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome air-and-missile-defense initiative, according to people familiar with the matter. The reporting underscores how tightly Elon Musk’s space and satellite business is being linked to government defense needs.

2026-04-24T22:35:31.621249-07:00

SpaceX tapped to help build software “operating system” for Trump’s Golden Dome

Menu

Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

Space Force demand surge pressures heavy-lift launch market as certified providers remain limited

Northrop could win up to $85B for GBSD next-gen ICBMs, targeting an earlier fielding via accelerated contracting

Vietnam weighs Su-57 stealth fighters and Rafale to replace aging Soviet-era fleet; Russia’s Su-57 force remains limited (20–25

Rheinmetall to establish satellite testing facility in Andøya, Norway

News Timeline