News

The War Zone • Thomas Newdick

USAF plans to retire its E-11A BACN fleet by 2028 and shift airborne data-fusion/relay to space, while pursuing larger EA-37B el

The US Air Force says it has seven E-11s in its current fleet and wants to retire all E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Nodes by 2028. In parallel, it is seeking to almost double its EA-37B order in a FY-2028-dated plan, moving communications and fusion functions toward space-based systems.

2026-04-30T12:22:56.118625-07:00

Space Intel Report

Indra acquisition of Hispasat and Hisdesat boosts Q1 results; Europe’s Iris2 confirmed, Startical air-traffic constellation stil

2026-04-30T11:31:54.215043-07:00

Payload

York Space Systems to buy satcom terminal maker All.Space in ~$355M deal to build an end-to-end communications ecosystem

2026-04-30T06:32:32.868369-07:00

Space.com

Exploration Labs pitches “Apophis EX” commercial deep-space ride-share to rendezvous with potentially hazardous asteroid Apophis

2026-04-30T05:49:47.599162-07:00

News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

BENS to spotlight space security at 2026 Eisenhower Award Gala honoring Gen. Stephen N. Whiting Business Executives for National Security (BENS) will make space security a focal theme at the 2026 Eisenhower Award Gala, where public and private leaders will convene to honor General Stephen N. Whiting. The event underscores continued attention to contested-orbit risk management as the space enterprise expands.

2026-04-30T15:19:44.575322-07:00

BENS to spotlight space security at 2026 Eisenhower Award Gala honoring Gen. Stephen N. Whiting

The War Zone

USAF plans to retire its E-11A BACN fleet by 2028 and shift airborne data-fusion/relay to space, while pursuing larger EA-37B el The US Air Force says it has seven E-11s in its current fleet and wants to retire all E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Nodes by 2028. In parallel, it is seeking to almost double its EA-37B order in a FY-2028-dated plan, moving communications and fusion functions toward space-based systems.

2026-04-30T12:22:56.118625-07:00

USAF plans to retire its E-11A BACN fleet by 2028 and shift airborne data-fusion/relay to space, while pursuing larger EA-37B el

Space Intel Report

Indra acquisition of Hispasat and Hisdesat boosts Q1 results; Europe’s Iris2 confirmed, Startical air-traffic constellation stil Indra Group said its acquisition of satellite fleet operator Hispasat and military satellite services provider Hisdesat has materially increased the scale and profitability of its space business, setting up an expanded space portfolio. Indra also indicated Europe’s Iris2 program is “real,” while the Startical air-traffic constellation’s path remains uncertain.

2026-04-30T11:31:54.215043-07:00

Indra acquisition of Hispasat and Hisdesat boosts Q1 results; Europe’s Iris2 confirmed, Startical air-traffic constellation stil

Payload

❗️

York Space Systems to buy satcom terminal maker All.Space in ~$355M deal to build an end-to-end communications ecosystem York Space Systems has agreed to acquire satellite communications terminal developer All.Space for about $355 million, following SEC filings. The move expands York’s model from spacecraft manufacturing into user equipment and network connectivity, aimed at strengthening resilient multi-domain satcom for critical missions.

2026-04-30T06:32:32.868369-07:00

York Space Systems to buy satcom terminal maker All.Space in ~$355M deal to build an end-to-end communications ecosystem

Space.com

Exploration Labs pitches “Apophis EX” commercial deep-space ride-share to rendezvous with potentially hazardous asteroid Apophis Exploration Labs has proposed a first commercial deep-space ride-share mission, “Apophis EX,” aimed at rendezvousing with potentially hazardous asteroid Apophis. The concept positions a commercial capability to support near-Earth asteroid operations, aligning mission design around a specific hazard target.

2026-04-30T05:49:47.599162-07:00

Exploration Labs pitches “Apophis EX” commercial deep-space ride-share to rendezvous with potentially hazardous asteroid Apophis

SpaceWatch Global

NATO Space Center of Excellence conference wraps on deterrence and space domain awareness A wrap-up of the NATO Space Center of Excellence conference in Toulouse highlighted how deterrence frameworks and space domain awareness (SDA) are being operationalized for alliance resilience. The discussion focused on translating contested-space threat concepts into repeatable approaches for information, monitoring, and coordination.

2026-04-30T04:39:07.411157-07:00

NATO Space Center of Excellence conference wraps on deterrence and space domain awareness

SpaceWatch Global

NATO ACT outlines “sword vs shield” space deterrence: Phase Zero, a Space Data Marketplace and NATO Space CoE priorities MG Devin Pepper of NATO’s ACT argues NATO must strengthen both deterrent “sword” and defensive “shield” capabilities in space. He highlights a “Phase Zero” approach for early planning and an initiative around a “Space Data Marketplace” to improve how NATO uses space data for readiness and operations.

2026-04-30T04:34:22.580154-07:00

NATO ACT outlines “sword vs shield” space deterrence: Phase Zero, a Space Data Marketplace and NATO Space CoE priorities

SpaceWatch Global

Gilles Rabin: Germany’s “Gesamtkonzeption” reframes European defence cooperation vs France’s sovereign model—and its implication In a SpaceWatchGL opinion, Gilles Rabin explains what Germany’s “Gesamtkonzeption” approach could mean for European defence design, particularly how it affects NATO alignment, decision-making and space-related military planning compared with France’s “sovereign model.”

2026-04-30T04:12:25.858626-07:00

Gilles Rabin: Germany’s “Gesamtkonzeption” reframes European defence cooperation vs France’s sovereign model—and its implication

Menu

Space Defense & Militarization News

USAF plans to retire its E-11A BACN fleet by 2028 and shift airborne data-fusion/relay to space, while pursuing larger EA-37B el

Indra acquisition of Hispasat and Hisdesat boosts Q1 results; Europe’s Iris2 confirmed, Startical air-traffic constellation stil

York Space Systems to buy satcom terminal maker All.Space in ~$355M deal to build an end-to-end communications ecosystem

Exploration Labs pitches “Apophis EX” commercial deep-space ride-share to rendezvous with potentially hazardous asteroid Apophis

News Timeline