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Breaking Defense • Theresa Hitchens

Tom Ainsworth named Air Force top space acquisition officer as leaders prep for FY27 budget jump

Tom Ainsworth has been named the Air Force’s top space acquisition officer, succeeding Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, who will remain as Ainsworth’s military deputy. The move comes as Space Force and Air Force acquisition teams prepare for an anticipated FY27 budget increase and personnel growth.

2026-01-23T10:20:04.154320-08:00

Via Satellite

AFRL selects Aalyria’s Spacetime for space-data ‘network of networks’ experimentation

2026-01-23T11:55:53.397974-08:00

SpaceWatch Global

Luxembourg greenlights GovSat‑2 financing to boost sovereign secure satcom for national, EU and NATO use

2026-01-23T01:14:48.265193-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Space Force accelerates warfighting shift with commercial MTI, STARCOM build-up and personnel growth

2026-01-22T12:36:41.111022-08:00

News Timeline

Via Satellite

AFRL selects Aalyria’s Spacetime for space-data ‘network of networks’ experimentation The Air Force Research Laboratory will evaluate Aalyria’s Spacetime network-orchestration software as a candidate for a future “network of networks” concept, testing its ability to coordinate space-based data flows and integrate heterogeneous satellite and ground links during a space data network experimentation program.

2026-01-23T11:55:53.397974-08:00

AFRL selects Aalyria’s Spacetime for space-data ‘network of networks’ experimentation

Breaking Defense

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Tom Ainsworth named Air Force top space acquisition officer as leaders prep for FY27 budget jump Tom Ainsworth has been named the Air Force’s top space acquisition officer, succeeding Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, who will remain as Ainsworth’s military deputy. The move comes as Space Force and Air Force acquisition teams prepare for an anticipated FY27 budget increase and personnel growth.

2026-01-23T10:20:04.154320-08:00

Tom Ainsworth named Air Force top space acquisition officer as leaders prep for FY27 budget jump

SpaceWatch Global

Luxembourg greenlights GovSat‑2 financing to boost sovereign secure satcom for national, EU and NATO use Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies has approved funding to acquire, launch and operate GovSat‑2, extending the state's sovereign secure-satellite communications capacity. The programme is framed as a capability for Luxembourg's national requirements and to support EU and NATO security and defence uses.

2026-01-23T01:14:48.265193-08:00

Luxembourg greenlights GovSat‑2 financing to boost sovereign secure satcom for national, EU and NATO use

SpaceNews.com

Space Force acquisition arm races to rebuild contracting workforce after civilian cuts The Space Force's acquisition arm is scrambling to rebuild its contracting workforce after recent civilian reductions, accelerating hiring and backfilling to restore contracting capacity. Officials warn the gap risks slowing procurement execution and complicating oversight as the service implements broader acquisition reforms.

2026-01-22T16:13:29.931516-08:00

Space Force acquisition arm races to rebuild contracting workforce after civilian cuts

Payload

Colorado Springs groups oppose lawsuit seeking to keep U.S. Space Command headquarters Multiple Colorado Springs–based groups say the tug-of-war over the location of U.S. Space Command headquarters must end, opposing a lawsuit that seeks to keep the command at Peterson Space Force Base. They argue continued litigation undermines America’s military space mission and operational readiness.

2026-01-22T14:35:45.642045-08:00

Colorado Springs groups oppose lawsuit seeking to keep U.S. Space Command headquarters

SpaceNews.com

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Space Force accelerates warfighting shift with commercial MTI, STARCOM build-up and personnel growth The U.S. Space Force is accelerating a warfighting transition—partnering with commercial firms and intelligence agencies to field moving-target indication (MTI) and broader space-domain sensing—while planning to roughly double personnel over the next decade and directing STARCOM to build combat-ready forces to counter rising threats to satellites.

2026-01-22T12:36:41.111022-08:00

Space Force accelerates warfighting shift with commercial MTI, STARCOM build-up and personnel growth

Space Intel Report

Four takeaways from 2025: defense reprioritization reshapes markets as commercial constellations scale As 2025 closed and 2026 opened, defense priorities reoriented procurement and operational focus while commercial satellite constellations scaled far faster than anticipated, driving new investment, sovereign partnerships and pressure on regulators and operators to improve on‑orbit resilience and supply‑chain capacity.

2026-01-22T06:47:20.046258-08:00

Four takeaways from 2025: defense reprioritization reshapes markets as commercial constellations scale

SpaceWatch Global

Europe’s space defence: autonomy, partnership or strategic dependence as US strategy crystallises With the US strategic trajectory becoming explicit as the administration enters its second term, Europe faces a pivotal choice: build sovereign space-defence capabilities, deepen dependence on Washington, or pursue a hybrid partnership. That choice will determine procurement, industrial policy and allied interoperability for years to come.

2026-01-22T01:38:40.729834-08:00

Europe’s space defence: autonomy, partnership or strategic dependence as US strategy crystallises

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Space Defense & Militarization News

Tom Ainsworth named Air Force top space acquisition officer as leaders prep for FY27 budget jump

AFRL selects Aalyria’s Spacetime for space-data ‘network of networks’ experimentation

Luxembourg greenlights GovSat‑2 financing to boost sovereign secure satcom for national, EU and NATO use

Space Force accelerates warfighting shift with commercial MTI, STARCOM build-up and personnel growth

News Timeline