Space Defense & Militarization News

Breaking Defense • Theresa Hitchens

Space Force mandates on‑orbit refueling for RG‑XX space domain‑awareness satellites; draft RFP due end‑2025

The U.S. Space Force will require its next‑generation RG‑XX space domain awareness satellites to support on‑orbit refueling, making RG‑XX the first official acquisition program with that mandate. A draft request for proposals is targeted for release by the end of 2025, with a solicitation expected in the coming months.

2025-09-24T10:14:32.088966-07:00

Ars Technica

US intelligence warns China is close to mastering reusable orbital launch systems

2025-09-22T16:44:41.541015-07:00

Space.com

SpaceX launches NROL-48 from Vandenberg — 11th 'proliferated architecture' batch of U.S. spy satellites

2025-09-22T11:04:20.853376-07:00

Breaking Defense

Space Force to Own Next‑Gen Space Domain Awareness Satellites Built on Commercial Tech; SSC Draft RFP Due by Year‑End

2025-09-22T13:00:22.639439-07:00

Space Defense & Militarization News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

❗️

Satellites That Never Stop Moving: The Next Chapter in Space Defense A new wave of defensive satellite concepts emphasizes continuously maneuvering spacecraft designed to keep orbiting assets in motion to complicate targeting and improve survivability. The approach signals a shift from static constellations toward active, resilient architectures intended for contested orbital environments.

2025-09-24T14:01:38.519473-07:00

Satellites That Never Stop Moving: The Next Chapter in Space Defense

Breaking Defense

❗️

Space Force mandates on‑orbit refueling for RG‑XX space domain‑awareness satellites; draft RFP due end‑2025 The U.S. Space Force will require its next‑generation RG‑XX space domain awareness satellites to support on‑orbit refueling, making RG‑XX the first official acquisition program with that mandate. A draft request for proposals is targeted for release by the end of 2025, with a solicitation expected in the coming months.

2025-09-24T10:14:32.088966-07:00

Space Force mandates on‑orbit refueling for RG‑XX space domain‑awareness satellites; draft RFP due end‑2025

Breaking Defense

Air, Space & Cyber Conference puts air dominance, ICBMs and Space Force priorities front and center At the Air, Space & Cyber Conference in National Harbor, service leaders elevated air dominance as a top capability need while day-two sessions homed in on ICBM developments and Space Force priorities — highlighting a joint push for survivable forces, space-enabled sensing and faster acquisition.

2025-09-23T18:12:22.278488-07:00

Air, Space & Cyber Conference puts air dominance, ICBMs and Space Force priorities front and center

SpaceNews.com

❗️

Chinese spacecraft images Maxar remote‑sensing and U.S. early‑warning satellites A Chinese spacecraft has photographed U.S. commercial and military satellites in orbit, capturing imagery of a Maxar remote‑sensing platform and U.S. early‑warning assets. The encounters underscore growing on‑orbit observation and counterspace activity as Beijing and Washington test and demonstrate capabilities.

2025-09-23T16:15:45.456664-07:00

Chinese spacecraft images Maxar remote‑sensing and U.S. early‑warning satellites

Reuters

Boeing Defense taps Palantir Foundry to standardize AI across BDS factories and programmes Boeing Defense, Space & Security has partnered with Palantir to deploy the Foundry AI platform across BDS factories and programmes, standardising data analytics and insights across geographically dispersed production lines. The agreement was announced Sept. 23 at the AFA 2025 conference.

2025-09-23T13:32:24.643930-07:00

Boeing Defense taps Palantir Foundry to standardize AI across BDS factories and programmes

SpaceNews.com

Space Force presses acquisition reform — speed over perfection to accelerate tech delivery At the Air, Space & Cyber conference in National Harbor, Gen. B. Chance Saltzman urged acquisition reform that prioritizes speed over perfection to accelerate delivery of space technologies amid rising threats. Space Force leaders say organizational changes already put the service ahead in faster procurement.

2025-09-23T11:54:15.738926-07:00

Space Force presses acquisition reform — speed over perfection to accelerate tech delivery

Breaking Defense

❗️

SDA pauses Navigation Layer PNT work, risking alternate‑GPS capability The Space Development Agency is re-evaluating and effectively suspending positioning, navigation and timing work for upcoming satellite tranches amid budget constraints, putting a planned Navigation Layer — designed to locate GPS jammers and provide alternate PNT signals — at risk. The move reduces near‑term options to counter escalating GNSS interference.

2025-09-23T11:52:20.521599-07:00

SDA pauses Navigation Layer PNT work, risking alternate‑GPS capability

Breaking Defense

DoD Weighs Updated Acquisition Strategy for Northrop Grumman LGM-35A Sentinel; Milestone B and EMD Targeted in 2027 The Defense Department is weighing an updated acquisition strategy for Northrop Grumman's LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM this fall, with the U.S. Air Force aiming for a Milestone B decision and engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) approval in early–mid 2027. Service officials and Northrop emphasize cybersecurity, digital modeling and extensive prototyping.

2025-09-23T10:32:46.482900-07:00

DoD Weighs Updated Acquisition Strategy for Northrop Grumman LGM-35A Sentinel; Milestone B and EMD Targeted in 2027

Create a free account to see more recent Space Defense & Militarization stories.