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• Sandra Erwin
The defense technology company says it has tested all three systems in orbit. One is an infrared sensor designed to track spacecraft while they pass through Earth’s shadow, extending the company’s announced space-surveillance payload portfolio.
Space Defense & Militarization
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The defense technology company says it has tested all three systems in orbit. One is an infrared sensor designed to track spacecraft while they pass through Earth’s shadow, extending the company’s announced space-surveillance payload portfolio.
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has reached a long-term agreement with Seagate Space to use Gateway, Seagate’s first offshore launch platform. The companies said the partnership will advance mobile offshore launch capabilities for national security missions; the announcement did not disclose the agreement’s value or operational timeline.
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France’s Defence Procurement Agency has selected Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space to develop IRIS, the next generation of ultra-high-resolution optical Earth-observation satellites for the French armed forces. The contract is valued at more than €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion), with Airbus as lead contractor and Thales Alenia Space as co-contractor.
Firefly sees potential business opportunities as the Pentagon turns toward cislunar space. The development puts a commercial space company’s prospects alongside growing defense interest in the region between Earth and the moon, though the available report summary provides no details on specific opportunities or programs.
A comment describing the US military as “notionally interested” in a lunar satellite constellation signals preliminary interest, not a confirmed program or procurement decision. The available report provides no details on mission, scale, timing or responsible service, leaving the scope of that interest unclear.
MDA Space said the delayed delivery of two Pathfinder satellites, intended to prove out Telesat’s Lightspeed constellation, will have no financial effect on its work as the constellation’s prime contractor. The company declined to specify the cause of the delay and is also positioning for U.S. and European military satellite business.
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