Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

BAE's FAST Labs wins $16M DARPA Phase‑2 to scale autonomous satellite tasking

BAE Systems' FAST Labs won a $16 million Phase‑2 DARPA contract under the Oversight program to mature autonomous tasking and on‑board decisioning for large satellite constellations. The effort will refine algorithms to enable persistent, automated monitoring of terrestrial assets and scale space‑based surveillance.

2025-12-11T07:33:16.300223-08:00

Payload

Fortastra raises $8M seed to develop on‑orbit defense satellites

2025-12-11T06:11:03.707929-08:00

Via Satellite

Umbra and e‑GEOS sign multi‑year pact to combine high‑volume SAR with value‑added EO for geospatial intelligence

2025-12-10T13:11:51.294758-08:00

Washington Post

DHS signs roughly $140M deal for six Boeing 737s to run ICE deportation flights

2025-12-10T08:53:12.136859-08:00

Defense Industry & Major Contractors News Timeline

FlightGlobal

Beehive completes high‑altitude validation of Frenzy turbojet, targets Q1 2026 flight trials US propulsion start‑up Beehive Industries has completed high‑altitude testing of its developmental Frenzy turbojet and plans to begin flight trials in the first quarter of 2026. The milestone advances the engine from altitude validation toward airborne integration and operational demonstration.

2025-12-11T09:56:39.466040-08:00

Beehive completes high‑altitude validation of Frenzy turbojet, targets Q1 2026 flight trials

Reuters

Ivory Coast seeks US ISR basing in north, explores satellites to monitor al‑Qaeda‑linked militants Ivory Coast has requested that the United States base ISR aircraft in its northern region to monitor and target al‑Qaeda‑linked militants moving south from the Sahel. Abidjan and Washington have agreed on regional security requirements and are finalising timing while considering additional satellite intelligence for border monitoring.

2025-12-11T08:10:41.151205-08:00

Ivory Coast seeks US ISR basing in north, explores satellites to monitor al‑Qaeda‑linked militants

SpaceNews.com

BAE's FAST Labs wins $16M DARPA Phase‑2 to scale autonomous satellite tasking BAE Systems' FAST Labs won a $16 million Phase‑2 DARPA contract under the Oversight program to mature autonomous tasking and on‑board decisioning for large satellite constellations. The effort will refine algorithms to enable persistent, automated monitoring of terrestrial assets and scale space‑based surveillance.

2025-12-11T07:33:16.300223-08:00

BAE's FAST Labs wins $16M DARPA Phase‑2 to scale autonomous satellite tasking

SpaceNews.com

Industry roadmap outlines capabilities, policy and procurement priorities for future space defence An industry roadmap outlines priorities across capabilities, policy and procurement to guide development of future space defence systems. It calls for coordinated action between industry, policymakers and acquisition authorities to accelerate fielding, improve interoperability, strengthen on‑orbit resilience and clarify governance.

2025-12-11T07:09:41.401699-08:00

Industry roadmap outlines capabilities, policy and procurement priorities for future space defence

Vertical Mag

Robinson R66 logs 2,300 training hours across U.S. military fleet in seven months Robinson R66 helicopters logged roughly 2,300 training flight hours across U.S. Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Marine training programmes over seven months, operating primarily at training sites in Florida and Texas. The milestone reflects rapid integration of the R66/TH-66 pathway into multi‑service basic rotary‑wing instruction.

2025-12-11T06:11:16.698391-08:00

Robinson R66 logs 2,300 training hours across U.S. military fleet in seven months

Payload

Fortastra raises $8M seed to develop on‑orbit defense satellites Fortastra has closed an $8 million seed round to build spacecraft designed to provide physical security for government and commercial satellites. The startup intends to field on‑orbit defense systems to protect space assets as the operational threat environment evolves and demand for resilient services rises.

2025-12-11T06:11:03.707929-08:00

Fortastra raises $8M seed to develop on‑orbit defense satellites

Aviation Week

AVIC's 16‑ton Jiu Tian (Nine Heavens) drone mothership completes maiden flight AVIC's large uncrewed aerial system Jiu Tian — also called Nine Heavens or Jetank — completed its maiden flight on December 11 in Shaanxi. The 16‑ton 'drone carrier' is reported to carry swarms of attack drones internally and up to ~1,000 kg of bombs or missiles on external hardpoints.

2025-12-11T02:26:46.147226-08:00

AVIC's 16‑ton Jiu Tian (Nine Heavens) drone mothership completes maiden flight

SpaceWatch Global

EIB lends €20m to ECAPS to accelerate high‑performance rocket engine development for space and defence The European Investment Bank will lend €20 million to ECAPS AB to accelerate development of high‑performance rocket engines and propulsion systems for space and defence applications, providing targeted capital to scale testing, qualification and industrialisation of propulsion technologies critical to European launch and defence programmes.

2025-12-11T00:49:57.920581-08:00

EIB lends €20m to ECAPS to accelerate high‑performance rocket engine development for space and defence

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