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Reuters • Mike Stone

Space Force awards SpaceX $2.29B for Space Data Network Backbone LEO communications

The U.S. Space Force has awarded SpaceX a $2.29 billion contract to develop the “Space Data Network Backbone,” a low Earth orbit satellite network intended to operate as a military internet in space. The backbone is positioned to support the broader Space Data Network, including SDA transport-layer satellites.

2026-05-26T14:43:28.561315-07:00

Breaking Defense

Exail’s fiber optic gyro inertial navigation positions GNSS-denied land forces for precision fires

2026-05-26T07:22:17.661706-07:00

Reuters

Pentagon and SpaceX dispute Starlink pricing for Iran-war support used in LUCAS suicide drone operations

2026-05-26T03:30:10.977923-07:00

Space.com

DARPA to launch deep-space robotic repair satellite on a ~2026 timeline under the Dexterous, Deep-Space Robotics program

2026-05-25T10:16:09.139961-07:00

News Timeline

Reuters

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Space Force awards SpaceX $2.29B for Space Data Network Backbone LEO communications The U.S. Space Force has awarded SpaceX a $2.29 billion contract to develop the “Space Data Network Backbone,” a low Earth orbit satellite network intended to operate as a military internet in space. The backbone is positioned to support the broader Space Data Network, including SDA transport-layer satellites.

2026-05-26T14:43:28.561315-07:00

Space Force awards SpaceX $2.29B for Space Data Network Backbone LEO communications

Breaking Defense

Exail’s fiber optic gyro inertial navigation positions GNSS-denied land forces for precision fires As counterspace threats and electronic warfare erode GPS utility, Exail highlights its Fiber Optic Gyro (FOG) inertial navigation as a stable “source of truth” for land maneuver and precision fires in GNSS-denied environments. The pitch links high-end stability to autonomous operation under jamming/spoofing pressure.

2026-05-26T07:22:17.661706-07:00

Exail’s fiber optic gyro inertial navigation positions GNSS-denied land forces for precision fires

Payload

Satellogic lands $18M+ defense persistent-monitoring contract after shifting to continuous surveillance capabilities Satellogic has secured an $18 million-plus defense-monitoring contract, marking the company’s first large agreement since its strategic shift toward persistent-monitoring capabilities. The award signals strengthening demand for continuously available defense-ready space monitoring rather than episodic collection.

2026-05-26T06:17:56.443303-07:00

Satellogic lands $18M+ defense persistent-monitoring contract after shifting to continuous surveillance capabilities

Reuters

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Pentagon and SpaceX dispute Starlink pricing for Iran-war support used in LUCAS suicide drone operations Reuters reports the Pentagon is sparring with SpaceX over a Starlink price hike during the Iran war, amid a broader pricing and procurement tension. The disagreement is tied to Starlink’s use on LUCAS suicide drones, raising questions about how the Pentagon buys and funds wartime connectivity.

2026-05-26T03:30:10.977923-07:00

Pentagon and SpaceX dispute Starlink pricing for Iran-war support used in LUCAS suicide drone operations

Space.com

DARPA to launch deep-space robotic repair satellite on a ~2026 timeline under the Dexterous, Deep-Space Robotics program DARPA is moving from concept to flight for its Dexterous, Deep-Space Robotics effort, aiming to demonstrate a “robotic deep-space repair satellite” launch as soon as this summer and target a 2026 launch. The program’s focus is maintaining/repairing spacecraft far from Earth at extreme distances.

2026-05-25T10:16:09.139961-07:00

DARPA to launch deep-space robotic repair satellite on a ~2026 timeline under the Dexterous, Deep-Space Robotics program

SpaceWatch Global

Germany space-surveillance telescope system nears readiness after passing site acceptance tests at Meßstetten Two 1-meter telescopes for Germany’s space-surveillance capability have passed their Site Acceptance Test at the Meßstetten installation site, confirming the system is nearly ready for operations. The project followed a German Armed Forces subcontract to Baader Planetarium for a new LEO/GEO surveillance telescope system.

2026-05-25T00:45:29.178116-07:00

Germany space-surveillance telescope system nears readiness after passing site acceptance tests at Meßstetten

Associated Press

Russia deploys Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile in mass Kyiv attack, third wartime use Russia carried out a large-scale drone-and-missile assault on Kyiv on May 24, using the nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile for the third time in the war. Ukrainian officials said the attack killed at least two people, injured 83, and damaged buildings across the capital.

2026-05-24T18:28:09.644253-07:00

Russia deploys Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile in mass Kyiv attack, third wartime use

SpaceWatch Global

CSIS–SWF 2026 briefing spotlights Russian satellite pursuit of commercial ISR (ICEYE) and Europe’s security “blind spot,” raisin In a SpaceWatchGL opinion tied to the 2026 CSIS–SWF space threats briefing, Torsten Kriening argues Russian satellites are increasingly “stalking” commercial ISR providers such as ICEYE. The analysis also flags Europe’s security gaps and frames the debate around the Golden Dome program, including a stated $1.2 trillion scale question.

2026-05-24T04:43:57.232139-07:00

CSIS–SWF 2026 briefing spotlights Russian satellite pursuit of commercial ISR (ICEYE) and Europe’s security “blind spot,” raisin

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Space Defense & Militarization News

Space Force awards SpaceX $2.29B for Space Data Network Backbone LEO communications

Exail’s fiber optic gyro inertial navigation positions GNSS-denied land forces for precision fires

Pentagon and SpaceX dispute Starlink pricing for Iran-war support used in LUCAS suicide drone operations

DARPA to launch deep-space robotic repair satellite on a ~2026 timeline under the Dexterous, Deep-Space Robotics program

News Timeline