Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

Via Satellite • Mark Holmes

Thales Alenia Space lands Es’hailSat order for a software-defined geostationary telecom satellite on the Space INSPIRE platform

Thales Alenia Space (Thales 67% / Leonardo 33%) has signed a contract with Es’hailSat, Qatar’s satellite operator, to develop a new-generation software-defined telecommunications satellite in geostationary orbit using its Space INSPIRE in-orbit reconfiguration platform. The agreement also aligns with the Es’hail-3/Turksat-Biruni project partnership framework announced by Turkey and Qatar.

7 Sources

2026-06-30T13:29:29.705660-07:00

SpaceNews.com

US Space Force operationally accepts “Meadowlands” mobile satellite-jamming system to bolster electromagnetic warfare support wo

4 Sources

2026-06-30T12:45:36.517356-07:00

Reuters

Saab signs $2.54B deal to supply Ukraine with 16 Gripen E fighters, with C/D deliveries starting in 2027

9 Sources

2026-06-30T13:16:57.416868-07:00

FlightGlobal

Uncrewed mission momentum: General Atomics MQ-9B named “gold standard” for High North operations as Boeing’s MQ-25 Stingray resu

4 Sources

2026-06-30T07:17:34.480796-07:00

Defense Industry & Major Contractors News Timeline

Via Satellite

7 sources

Thales Alenia Space lands Es’hailSat order for a software-defined geostationary telecom satellite on the Space INSPIRE platform Thales Alenia Space (Thales 67% / Leonardo 33%) has signed a contract with Es’hailSat, Qatar’s satellite operator, to develop a new-generation software-defined telecommunications satellite in geostationary orbit using its Space INSPIRE in-orbit reconfiguration platform. The agreement also aligns with the Es’hail-3/Turksat-Biruni project partnership framework announced by Turkey and Qatar.

2026-06-30T13:29:29.705660-07:00

Thales Alenia Space lands Es’hailSat order for a software-defined geostationary telecom satellite on the Space INSPIRE platform

Reuters

9 sources

Saab signs $2.54B deal to supply Ukraine with 16 Gripen E fighters, with C/D deliveries starting in 2027 Sweden’s Saab and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) have signed a contract to deliver 16 Gripen E fighter aircraft to Ukraine in a deal worth about 24.6 billion Swedish crowns ($2.54 billion). The agreement marks the formal start of Ukraine’s Gripen programme, supported by Britain, with first Gripen C/D arrivals expected in early 2027 and Gripen E deliveries starting in early 2029 (reportedly).

2026-06-30T13:16:57.416868-07:00

Saab signs $2.54B deal to supply Ukraine with 16 Gripen E fighters, with C/D deliveries starting in 2027

SpaceNews.com

4 sources

❗️

US Space Force operationally accepts “Meadowlands” mobile satellite-jamming system to bolster electromagnetic warfare support wo On June 8, 2026, U.S. Space Force Combat Forces Command operationally accepted the Meadowlands mobile electronic warfare system. The service says Meadowlands expands its electromagnetic warfare portfolio with a capability to jam and disrupt adversary satellite communications for presentation to combatant commands globally.

2026-06-30T12:45:36.517356-07:00

US Space Force operationally accepts “Meadowlands” mobile satellite-jamming system to bolster electromagnetic warfare support wo

Reuters

2 sources

Kongsberg Gruppen lands ~$400M Kuwait defense system order via Raytheon under US FMS Kongsberg Gruppen will supply its defense system to Kuwait in a deal routed through Raytheon under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, the Norwegian technology company said. The order is valued at about $400 million, underscoring continued third-party procurement channels for Gulf defense capabilities.

2026-06-30T07:45:00.429367-07:00

Kongsberg Gruppen lands ~$400M Kuwait defense system order via Raytheon under US FMS

FlightGlobal

4 sources

Uncrewed mission momentum: General Atomics MQ-9B named “gold standard” for High North operations as Boeing’s MQ-25 Stingray resu Defense experts have formally designated the General Atomics MQ-9B as the “gold standard” platform for intelligence and combat operations in the High North. Separately, Boeing’s MQ-25A Stingray uncrewed carrier-based tanker has returned to sea aboard the USS Nimitz, with deck-handling trials last performed in 2021.

2026-06-30T07:17:34.480796-07:00

Uncrewed mission momentum: General Atomics MQ-9B named “gold standard” for High North operations as Boeing’s MQ-25 Stingray resu

AeroTime

1 source

Finland and Estonia sign LOI with NestAI to co-develop AI for unmanned systems and command-and-control Finland’s defense ministry and Estonia’s military have signed a June 30 letter of intent with NestAI to co-develop artificial intelligence for unmanned systems and command-and-control applications. The agreement signals a joint effort to bring AI capabilities into cross-border UAS operations and decision support.

2026-06-30T05:57:58.284559-07:00

Finland and Estonia sign LOI with NestAI to co-develop AI for unmanned systems and command-and-control

Washington Post

1 source

Trump begins construction of an unannounced White House helipad to address Marine One rotorwash/grass-scorch risk Construction has started on a new, previously unannounced helipad at the White House, funded with a Lockheed Martin donation. The project targets a long-running issue linked to the newer Marine One helicopters, which can scorch the White House lawn during operations.

2026-06-30T04:14:31.831509-07:00

Trump begins construction of an unannounced White House helipad to address Marine One rotorwash/grass-scorch risk

AeroTime

1 source

Ukraine says France and MBDA talks progress toward a potential license to produce SCALP cruise missiles domestically Ukraine says negotiations with France and MBDA are progressing on a potential licensing arrangement to manufacture SCALP cruise missiles in-country, while emphasizing that no agreement is finalized. The discussions frame a pathway for Kyiv to expand long-range strike production capacity without locking into a confirmed deal yet.

2026-06-30T03:28:43.538594-07:00

Ukraine says France and MBDA talks progress toward a potential license to produce SCALP cruise missiles domestically

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