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Space Intel Report • Peter B de Selding

Macron vows extra funding to accelerate France's military space build-up amid CNES budget shortfall

Visiting LA PLATA, Maryland, President Emmanuel Macron pledged supplemental funding to accelerate France's military space buildup and address program shortfalls as CNES confronts a budget gap. The commitment is intended to preserve development timelines for defence satellites and operational space capabilities despite fiscal pressures.

2026-01-19T13:04:01.082851-08:00

DefenseNews.com

U.S. Completes Withdrawal from al‑Asad Air Base in Iraq, Ending 20‑Year Presence

2026-01-19T16:27:24.191417-08:00

AeroTime

Czech government blocks transfer of Aero Vodochody L-159 light combat jets to Ukraine

2026-01-19T06:04:23.260688-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Space Force ends 'Resilient GPS' satellite program

2026-01-19T05:12:20.070832-08:00

News Timeline

DefenseNews.com

U.S. Completes Withdrawal from al‑Asad Air Base in Iraq, Ending 20‑Year Presence The U.S. has completed its withdrawal from al‑Asad air base in Anbar province, Iraq, ending a more than 20‑year American military presence in western Iraq. The drawdown removes the final sustained U.S. airbase footprint in the region established after the 2003 invasion.

2026-01-19T16:27:24.191417-08:00

U.S. Completes Withdrawal from al‑Asad Air Base in Iraq, Ending 20‑Year Presence

Space Intel Report

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Macron vows extra funding to accelerate France's military space build-up amid CNES budget shortfall Visiting LA PLATA, Maryland, President Emmanuel Macron pledged supplemental funding to accelerate France's military space buildup and address program shortfalls as CNES confronts a budget gap. The commitment is intended to preserve development timelines for defence satellites and operational space capabilities despite fiscal pressures.

2026-01-19T13:04:01.082851-08:00

Macron vows extra funding to accelerate France's military space build-up amid CNES budget shortfall

AeroTime

Czech government blocks transfer of Aero Vodochody L-159 light combat jets to Ukraine Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš and coalition ministers rejected President Petr Pavel’s proposal to transfer L-159 ALCA jets to Ukraine, citing technical availability and national requirements. The defence ministry says the type will remain needed by the Czech armed forces for another 15 years, closing the door on an immediate transfer to Kyiv.

2026-01-19T06:04:23.260688-08:00

Czech government blocks transfer of Aero Vodochody L-159 light combat jets to Ukraine

SpaceNews.com

Space Force ends 'Resilient GPS' satellite program The U.S. Space Force has ended its 'Resilient GPS' satellite program, canceling a planned effort to field a hardened backup navigation constellation aimed at improving resilience to jamming and spoofing. The cancellation shifts the burden for secure positioning, navigation and timing to existing GPS assets and alternative PNT programs.

2026-01-19T05:12:20.070832-08:00

Space Force ends 'Resilient GPS' satellite program

DefenseNews.com

Air Force looks to Navy's small-drone networks to cut Middle East security costs The Navy's adoption of small UAV networks for maritime situational awareness is proving successful, prompting the U.S. Air Force to pursue similar distributed drone architectures. Air Force leaders say networked small drones could reduce the cost of maintaining security in the Middle East while expanding persistent surveillance.

2026-01-19T05:00:49.144239-08:00

Air Force looks to Navy's small-drone networks to cut Middle East security costs

Reuters

Nigerian air force kills more than 40 militants near Lake Chad, destroys about 10 canoes Nigerian airstrikes struck militants gathering in canoes off Borno state near Lake Chad, killing more than 40 fighters and destroying about 10 canoes, the military said. The strikes, launched amid concerns of a planned attack, continue a series of operations targeting armed groups around the lake.

2026-01-19T03:56:45.282976-08:00

Nigerian air force kills more than 40 militants near Lake Chad, destroys about 10 canoes

defencetoday.com

Spears of Victory 2026: 15-nation Saudi air exercise sees Pakistan deploy F‑16 Block 52 fighters Spears of Victory 2026, a 15-nation air exercise running 18 Jan–5 Feb at Saudi Arabia's Air Warfare Centre in the Eastern Region, includes participants such as the US and UK. Pakistan confirmed deployment of F‑16 Block 52 fighters to the drills, which focus on joint operations and interoperability.

2026-01-18T11:45:41.740855-08:00

Spears of Victory 2026: 15-nation Saudi air exercise sees Pakistan deploy F‑16 Block 52 fighters

South China Morning Post

PLA drone enters airspace near Taiwan-held Pratas Island; Taipei protests China's PLA dispatched an unmanned aerial vehicle into airspace near Taiwan-held Pratas Island in the South China Sea, drawing a Taipei protest that called the move 'provocative and irresponsible.' The Southern Theatre Command said the sortie was 'completely legitimate' routine flight training.

2026-01-17T21:35:44.221284-08:00

PLA drone enters airspace near Taiwan-held Pratas Island; Taipei protests

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Defense Policy News

Macron vows extra funding to accelerate France's military space build-up amid CNES budget shortfall

U.S. Completes Withdrawal from al‑Asad Air Base in Iraq, Ending 20‑Year Presence

Czech government blocks transfer of Aero Vodochody L-159 light combat jets to Ukraine

Space Force ends 'Resilient GPS' satellite program

News Timeline