News

Breaking Defense • Theresa Hitchens

SpaceX to launch SDA Tranche 2 — 36 missile‑tracking satellites (L3Harris, Lockheed Martin) plus 8 Millennium FOO Fighters

SpaceX will launch the Space Development Agency's Tranche 2 Tracking Layer, carrying 36 missile‑tracking satellites — 18 built by L3Harris and 18 by Lockheed Martin — plus eight Millennium Space Systems FOO Fighter demonstrators, advancing SDA's proliferated missile‑warning and tracking architecture.

2026-01-09T13:28:13.058173-08:00

Breaking Defense

USAF creates Portfolio Acquisition Executives, consolidating oversight of advanced aircraft and NC2 under Hegseth reforms

2026-01-09T11:52:42.938534-08:00

Breaking Defense

DIU seeks airborne magnetic-data prototypes to enable ‘unjammable’ precision navigation for maritime surveillance

2026-01-09T12:34:31.272965-08:00

The War Zone

USMC XQ-58 Valkyries to Add Landing Gear, Enabling Both Rocket and Runway Launches

2026-01-09T11:30:52.404895-08:00

News Timeline

Breaking Defense

SpaceX to launch SDA Tranche 2 — 36 missile‑tracking satellites (L3Harris, Lockheed Martin) plus 8 Millennium FOO Fighters SpaceX will launch the Space Development Agency's Tranche 2 Tracking Layer, carrying 36 missile‑tracking satellites — 18 built by L3Harris and 18 by Lockheed Martin — plus eight Millennium Space Systems FOO Fighter demonstrators, advancing SDA's proliferated missile‑warning and tracking architecture.

2026-01-09T13:28:13.058173-08:00

SpaceX to launch SDA Tranche 2 — 36 missile‑tracking satellites (L3Harris, Lockheed Martin) plus 8 Millennium FOO Fighters

Breaking Defense

DIU seeks airborne magnetic-data prototypes to enable ‘unjammable’ precision navigation for maritime surveillance The Defense Innovation Unit has solicited and expects to fund multiple airborne prototypes that collect magnetic-field data to provide precision, ‘unjammable’ navigation in GPS‑denied environments. One prototype concept is scoped to scan the ocean surface from roughly 2,000 ft to support maritime surveillance and navigation augmentation.

2026-01-09T12:34:31.272965-08:00

DIU seeks airborne magnetic-data prototypes to enable ‘unjammable’ precision navigation for maritime surveillance

Breaking Defense

❗️

USAF creates Portfolio Acquisition Executives, consolidating oversight of advanced aircraft and NC2 under Hegseth reforms The Department of the Air Force has created seven acquisition portfolios and named Portfolio Acquisition Executives to oversee programs including advanced aircraft and nuclear command-and-control as part of Secretary Pete Hegseth’s procurement overhaul. The change aims to streamline weapons buying and cut bureaucracy; the executives’ authorities are still being defined.

2026-01-09T11:52:42.938534-08:00

USAF creates Portfolio Acquisition Executives, consolidating oversight of advanced aircraft and NC2 under Hegseth reforms

The War Zone

USMC XQ-58 Valkyries to Add Landing Gear, Enabling Both Rocket and Runway Launches Adding landing gear to the USMC's XQ-58 Valkyrie will let the jet be rocket‑boosted for launch and recover via conventional runway landings. Rocket‑launched Valkyries will still require runway touch‑downs after missions, creating new operational options and sustainment trade‑offs for expeditionary use.

2026-01-09T11:30:52.404895-08:00

USMC XQ-58 Valkyries to Add Landing Gear, Enabling Both Rocket and Runway Launches

FlightGlobal

Qatar's Barzan converts part of £5m loan into equity to deepen stake in Aeralis Qatar’s state-owned Barzan Holdings has converted part of a previously issued £5 million loan into shares, increasing its stake in UK modular trainer developer Aeralis. The loan-to-equity move alters Aeralis’s capital structure and brings a state-backed investor closer to the company’s trainer programme.

2026-01-09T09:25:21.877516-08:00

Qatar's Barzan converts part of £5m loan into equity to deepen stake in Aeralis

Reuters

Trump’s 'bully pulpit' raises political risk for defense firms — threats to RTX buybacks and investor deals President Trump has publicly threatened to bar defense contractors — singling out $250 billion RTX — from executing share buybacks and to curb major investors’ property purchases. While such measures would face legal and political hurdles, companies say executives will divert time and resources responding to the threat.

2026-01-09T06:45:28.523190-08:00

Trump’s 'bully pulpit' raises political risk for defense firms — threats to RTX buybacks and investor deals

SpaceNews.com

Space Force to accelerate acquisitions and systems integration in 2026 The U.S. Space Force will speed up acquisition and integration of systems in 2026, compressing procurement timelines to deliver capabilities to operators more quickly across its portfolio. The move represents a deliberate shift toward faster fielding and more rapid incorporation of new space systems next year.

2026-01-09T06:06:08.426077-08:00

Space Force to accelerate acquisitions and systems integration in 2026

Payload

Space Canada urges Ottawa to speed defence procurement to open market for domestic space firms Space Canada released a 17‑page position paper Wednesday urging Ottawa to accelerate defence procurement to align with global practice and unlock defence and dual‑use contract opportunities for Canadian space companies. The paper proposes policy and acquisition reforms designed to shorten program timelines and improve industry access.

2026-01-09T05:28:03.206188-08:00

Space Canada urges Ottawa to speed defence procurement to open market for domestic space firms

Menu

Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

SpaceX to launch SDA Tranche 2 — 36 missile‑tracking satellites (L3Harris, Lockheed Martin) plus 8 Millennium FOO Fighters

USAF creates Portfolio Acquisition Executives, consolidating oversight of advanced aircraft and NC2 under Hegseth reforms

DIU seeks airborne magnetic-data prototypes to enable ‘unjammable’ precision navigation for maritime surveillance

USMC XQ-58 Valkyries to Add Landing Gear, Enabling Both Rocket and Runway Launches

News Timeline