SpaceNews.com
• Sandra Erwin
Northrop Grumman is emphasizing its longstanding role in military space surveillance as the U.S. Space Force opens the in-orbit surveillance market to newer companies. The shift introduces competition in a mission area where established defense contractors bring experience, while new entrants seek a share of emerging government demand.
Space Defense & Militarization
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Northrop Grumman is emphasizing its longstanding role in military space surveillance as the U.S. Space Force opens the in-orbit surveillance market to newer companies. The shift introduces competition in a mission area where established defense contractors bring experience, while new entrants seek a share of emerging government demand.
Iridium says its satellite communications help keep soldiers and unmanned systems connected beyond line of sight, while its navigation technology is designed for environments where GPS is disrupted. The discussion highlights the role of resilient connectivity and positioning in military operations.
Satellites help Ukraine detect when Russian missiles and drones have been launched and provide information that can support interception, making space-based surveillance a key part of the country’s defense alongside weapons. The article describes the role of U.S. space-based capabilities in that effort.
SpaceX launched a classified U.S. Space Force mission from California on Oct. 15, its 114th Falcon 9 flight of the year. The company said the booster landed on a droneship.
President Donald Trump announced plans for a Montana facility intended to test autonomous weapons, space and electronic-warfare technologies, as well as supersonic and hypersonic systems. The articles also point to broader Kratos and Department of War investment in testing infrastructure, including radar sustainment and hypersonic thermal-protection evaluation.
BlackSky Technology announced a seven-figure extension contract Oct. 15 with Australian non-Earth imagery company HEO. The agreement extends their work to gather imagery of objects beyond Earth, linking BlackSky’s capabilities with HEO’s specialized imagery business.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) says he and Senate colleagues will ask the Defense Department inspector general to investigate Ukraine’s sudden loss of access to Starshield, the military version of Starlink. The disruption reportedly hampered Ukrainian forces’ ability to intercept Russian drones.
BlackSky Technology signed a seven-figure deal to extend its partnership with non-Earth imaging provider HEO for another year. The renewed agreement adds BlackSky’s Gen-3 imagery to support space domain awareness.
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