Defense News

Satellite Space Defense & Militarization Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

Reuters

US senator probes Ukraine’s loss of Pentagon Starshield access

Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal has opened an inquiry into Ukraine’s loss of access to the Pentagon’s Starshield satellite communications service. He says the resulting disruption has degraded Kyiv’s ability to defend itself against Russian attacks, putting military connectivity and access to commercial space-enabled services under scrutiny.

1 Source

2026-10-22T15:04:27.745079-07:00

F-16 Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Reuters • Aatreyee Dasgupta, Mike Stone

Lockheed lands Pentagon deal for 850 F-35 jets, lifts annual forecast

By Reuters: Lockheed Martin announced an agreement on Thursday to sell the Pentagon at least 850 stealthy ‌F-35 Lightning II fighter jets over the next 10 years, a deal worth at least $78 billion.

Breaking Defense

Pentagon, Lockheed agree to decade-long F-35 framework deal for hundreds of jets

DefenseNews.com

Pentagon, Lockheed agree to 10-year deal for 850 F-35 jets

Also: Bloomberg, aviationnews.eu, The Hill, FlightGlobal, AeroTime, Air Data News, Wall Street Journal, Air & Space Forces Mag, Aviation Week, The War Zone, Stars and Stripes, defence-blog.com and 30 more

62 Sources

2026-10-22T04:04:22.740387-07:00

Aerial Firefighting Helicopter Europe Military Aircraft Procurement

Reuters

Britain to use military aircraft to fight climate change-fuelled wildfires

By Reuters: Britain said on Thursday it would for the first time use military helicopters and ‌aircraft to fight wildfires after its hottest summer on record, as the government steps up efforts to combat a threat it says ⁠is being fuelled by climate change.

Also: UK Defence Journal and The Independent

3 Sources

2026-10-22T16:04:22.892834-07:00

China Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)

The War Zone • Thomas Newdick

Four KJ-3000 Radar Jets At Chinese Factory Point To Serial Production

By The War Zone: The KJ-3000 is the most capable of China’s rapidly expanding airborne early warning and control aircraft fleet. The KJ-3000 is the most capable of China’s rapidly expanding airborne early warning and control aircraft fleet.

1 Source

2026-10-22T14:05:33.159149-07:00

Satellite Space Force Defense Industry & Major Contractors Commercial Space Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Space Force taps six companies to provide satellite surveillance backup

By SpaceNews.com: Illustration by NorthStar Earth & Space WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force has awarded its first operational contracts under a program designed to enlist commercial satellite operators during military crises.

SpaceNews.com

Space Force moves to give startups a foothold in classified programs

SpaceWatch Africa

UK advances new space strategy to bolster defences against threats from space

Also: Air & Space Forces Mag, Business Insider, Defense Daily and 4 more

10 Sources

2026-10-22T09:06:06.316442-07:00

Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Industry & Major Contractors

The War Zone • Joseph Trevithick, Thomas Newdick

Ground-Launched Rusty Dagger Low-Cost Cruise Missile Seen For The First Time

By The War Zone: The first public look at the missile in a surface-launched configuration comes as its manufacturer expands production. The first public look at the missile in a surface-launched configuration comes as its manufacturer expands production.

1 Source

2026-10-22T13:28:21.962926-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

Via Satellite • Kelevitch Thursday

The Question Gulf Buyers Are Now Asking: Who Can Switch This Off?

By Via Satellite: On April 4, Planet Labs told customers it would withhold imagery of Iran and the surrounding conflict zone indefinitely, retroactive to March 9.

1 Source

2026-10-22T14:15:31.549040-07:00

Satellite Space Defense & Militarization Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

Ars Technica • Stephen Clark

US official: Russia's stalker satellite sure looks like an orbital weapon

By Ars Technica: The Russian official who called commercial satellites "legitimate targets" now says concerns are "unfounded.".

1 Source

2026-10-22T12:00:39.389405-07:00

US senator probes Ukraine’s loss of Pentagon Starshield access

Lockheed lands Pentagon deal for 850 F-35 jets, lifts annual forecast

Pentagon, Lockheed agree to decade-long F-35 framework deal for hundreds of jets

Pentagon, Lockheed agree to 10-year deal for 850 F-35 jets

Britain to use military aircraft to fight climate change-fuelled wildfires

Four KJ-3000 Radar Jets At Chinese Factory Point To Serial Production

Space Force taps six companies to provide satellite surveillance backup

Space Force moves to give startups a foothold in classified programs

UK advances new space strategy to bolster defences against threats from space

Ground-Launched Rusty Dagger Low-Cost Cruise Missile Seen For The First Time

The Question Gulf Buyers Are Now Asking: Who Can Switch This Off?

US official: Russia's stalker satellite sure looks like an orbital weapon

Britain to use military aircraft to fight climate change-fuelled wildfires

US Democratic senator probes Ukraine's loss of Starshield service

Four KJ-3000 Radar Jets At Chinese Factory Point To Serial Production

The Question Gulf Buyers Are Now Asking: Who Can Switch This Off?

Ground-Launched Rusty Dagger Low-Cost Cruise Missile Seen For The First Time

US official: Russia's stalker satellite sure looks like an orbital weapon

A-4 'Super' Skyhawks Playing The Bad Guys In European Skies

Skyfly Secures $10 million To Commercialize Axe personal eVTOL aircraft

Construction Of Iran’s “Eagle 44” Underground Airbase Hasn’t Stopped Despite War

'Ability to strike back': Denmark commits to long-range missile orders

Musk ordered a slowdown of Ukraine’s military-grade Starlink service, raising concerns over Kyiv’s reliance on the network for w

French Mirage 2000D crashes during night training flight, killing one crew member; second remains missing

UK to deploy Typhoons, Voyager tanker and A400M to support Saudi defensive operations against Houthi attacks

Russian satellite closes to within 3,281 feet of U.S.-registered ICEYE radar satellite

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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