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DefenseNews.com • Michael Peck

Pentagon seeks low-cost commercial satellites for on-orbit surveillance and close inspections

The Pentagon is seeking low-cost commercial satellites able to conduct on-orbit surveillance and close-range inspections of other spacecraft, targeting affordable platforms for persistent monitoring and proximity operations. The solicitation formalizes use of commercial providers to augment space-domain awareness and inspection capabilities.

2026-02-17T20:07:19.481560-08:00

The Air Current

NTSB releases 378‑page final report, 33 recommendations on Jan. 29, 2025 Potomac midair collision

2026-02-17T11:57:49.824327-08:00

Breaking Defense

USAF to finish Sentinel (LGM-35A) restructure by 2026 after Milestone B revocation; IOC pushed to early 2030s

2026-02-17T08:53:48.149477-08:00

Aviation Week

DARPA designates General Atomics' LongShot as X-68A; program nears F‑15 integration and eyes 2026 flight tests

2026-02-17T06:11:19.361596-08:00

News Timeline

DefenseNews.com

Pentagon seeks low-cost commercial satellites for on-orbit surveillance and close inspections The Pentagon is seeking low-cost commercial satellites able to conduct on-orbit surveillance and close-range inspections of other spacecraft, targeting affordable platforms for persistent monitoring and proximity operations. The solicitation formalizes use of commercial providers to augment space-domain awareness and inspection capabilities.

2026-02-17T20:07:19.481560-08:00

Pentagon seeks low-cost commercial satellites for on-orbit surveillance and close inspections

The Intercept

Probe: USAF maintenance units spent $1.79M on high-end knives over a decade A probe found U.S. Air Force maintenance units bought $1.79 million of high-end combat and specialty knives over about a decade without documented operational justification. Investigators described the purchases as a 'knife-ordering spree,' highlighting failures in internal procurement controls and stewardship of taxpayer funds.

2026-02-17T14:12:59.115730-08:00

Probe: USAF maintenance units spent $1.79M on high-end knives over a decade

The Air Current

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NTSB releases 378‑page final report, 33 recommendations on Jan. 29, 2025 Potomac midair collision The NTSB has published a roughly 378‑page final report into the Jan. 29, 2025 Potomac River midair collision between a U.S. Army UH‑60L Black Hawk and an American Eagle CRJ700, concluding deep, systemic failures caused the crash that killed 67. The board issued 33 safety recommendations citing airspace design shortcomings, controller saturation and technological limits.

2026-02-17T11:57:49.824327-08:00

NTSB releases 378‑page final report, 33 recommendations on Jan. 29, 2025 Potomac midair collision

CBS News

USAF adopts Trump‑preferred red, white, dark blue and gold livery for executive airlift, including next‑gen Air Force One The U.S. Air Force is rolling out a new red, white, dark blue and gold paint scheme across its executive airlift fleet, including the next‑generation Air Force One, in President Trump’s preferred colors. A C‑32A was spotted wearing the new livery.

2026-02-17T11:21:10.672083-08:00

USAF adopts Trump‑preferred red, white, dark blue and gold livery for executive airlift, including next‑gen Air Force One

Breaking Defense

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USAF to finish Sentinel (LGM-35A) restructure by 2026 after Milestone B revocation; IOC pushed to early 2030s The U.S. Air Force restructured the LGM‑35A "Sentinel" ICBM after a Nunn‑McCurdy review revoked Milestone B amid soaring costs (about $141 billion) and schedule slip. The service aims to complete the restructure and reach Milestone B by end‑2026, with a missile‑pad test next year and IOC in the early 2030s.

2026-02-17T08:53:48.149477-08:00

USAF to finish Sentinel (LGM-35A) restructure by 2026 after Milestone B revocation; IOC pushed to early 2030s

AeroTime

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Reports of covert U.S.-Dutch-Ukrainian F-16 squadron defending Kyiv; Ukraine denies foreign combat pilots Multiple reports say a covert multinational F-16 squadron — staffed by U.S., Dutch and Ukrainian pilots on six‑month contracts — is flying combat missions to defend Kyiv and intercept Russian missiles and drones. The Ukrainian Air Force has rejected those claims, saying no foreign pilots are conducting combat sorties.

2026-02-17T07:50:02.809275-08:00

Reports of covert U.S.-Dutch-Ukrainian F-16 squadron defending Kyiv; Ukraine denies foreign combat pilots

Aviation Week

DARPA designates General Atomics' LongShot as X-68A; program nears F‑15 integration and eyes 2026 flight tests DARPA has designated General Atomics' LongShot drone the X-68A after key technical milestones and is advancing it toward flight tests in 2026. Designed as an air-launched missile carrier, it is nearing F-15 integration and aims to extend combat reach while keeping crewed aircraft at safer standoff.

2026-02-17T06:11:19.361596-08:00

DARPA designates General Atomics' LongShot as X-68A; program nears F‑15 integration and eyes 2026 flight tests

eVTOL Insights

AtkinsRéalis teams with Anduril UK to fast‑track sovereign autonomous systems for UK defence AtkinsRéalis has signed a teaming agreement with Anduril UK to provide critical safety, assurance and regulatory expertise aimed at accelerating development and sovereign deployment of autonomous systems for UK defence. The deal pairs a legacy engineering services firm with a defence-tech integrator to navigate certification and UK-specific compliance.

2026-02-17T03:46:12.192264-08:00

AtkinsRéalis teams with Anduril UK to fast‑track sovereign autonomous systems for UK defence

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Defense Policy News

Pentagon seeks low-cost commercial satellites for on-orbit surveillance and close inspections

NTSB releases 378‑page final report, 33 recommendations on Jan. 29, 2025 Potomac midair collision

USAF to finish Sentinel (LGM-35A) restructure by 2026 after Milestone B revocation; IOC pushed to early 2030s

DARPA designates General Atomics' LongShot as X-68A; program nears F‑15 integration and eyes 2026 flight tests

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