Satellite News

Breaking Defense

Boeing Defence Australia selects Lite Coms for Australian BLOS SATCOM terminal program

Boeing Defence Australia has selected U.S. company Lite Coms to provide beyond-line-of-sight satellite communications terminals for an Australian program. The agreement adds a U.S. supplier to Australia’s military SATCOM architecture, though the available details do not specify terminal quantities, platform integration or delivery timelines.

SpaceWatch Global

WSBW 2026: SWISSto12 on Profitable Growth and 3D-Printed Satellite Payloads

Fredrik Gustavsson of SWISSto12 discusses the company’s approach to profitable growth and the use of 3D-printed payloads in the space industry at WSBW 2026. The conversation highlights the intersection of commercial performance and advanced manufacturing in space hardware.

SpaceWatch Global

High activity

Planet opens Berlin factory to build Pelican satellites, putting European Earth-observation sovereignty in focus

Planet Labs has opened a Berlin manufacturing facility to expand production of its Pelican Earth-observation satellites, with the first spacecraft built there expected to launch in 2027. The investment strengthens European imaging capacity while highlighting questions around data sovereignty, security and the control of satellite shutters.

SpaceNews.com

ESA, European Commission commission studies for dual-use Earth-imaging system

The European Space Agency and European Commission have awarded contracts to two industry teams to study architectures for an Earth-observation system serving security applications. The effort signals an early step toward defining a European dual-use imaging capability and its potential industrial and institutional structure.

SpaceWatch Global

Marble Imaging and msg Systems partner on sovereign European ISR capabilities

Marble Imaging and msg Systems have signed a memorandum of understanding to combine Earth-observation data, artificial intelligence and secure IT infrastructure for European intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance applications. The partnership targets sovereign ISR capabilities built around European data, technology and infrastructure.

SpaceWatch Global

Northrop Grumman advances space-domain awareness prototype as Terma joins MDA Space’s AURORA satellite supply chain

Northrop Grumman is targeting delivery of a space-domain awareness prototype satellite within 24 months, with high-quality imaging and more frequent characterization of geosynchronous-orbit objects. Separately, Terma will provide MDA Space with power and radio-frequency checkout equipment and central checkout systems for AURORA satellite production and testing.

SpaceNews.com

U.S. Space Force seeks standby satellites for rapid orbital inspection missions

The U.S. Space Force is exploring a fleet of satellites that could remain on standby, launch on short notice and maneuver close to other spacecraft for inspection. The effort points to a potential new layer of rapid-response capability for monitoring and assessing activity in orbit.

Via Satellite

Intellian and Network Innovations to Develop Multi-Band WGS Flyaway Terminals

Intellian Technologies and Network Innovations are forming a strategic partnership to jointly develop and distribute multi-band Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) flyaway terminals for military and government customers, expanding their offerings for mobile and deployable satellite communications requirements.