Defense News

Satellite Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

Reuters • Mark Trevelyan

Putin praises Musk as Russia begins rolling out a Starlink counterpart

President Vladimir Putin praised Elon Musk as a genius, saying Russia is only beginning to roll out its answer to Starlink. The comments underscore the early stage of Russia’s effort to field a satellite internet system positioned as a counterpart to Musk’s network.

Also: Bloomberg and moderndiplomacy.eu

3 Sources

2026-10-28T09:04:33.637674-07:00

The War Zone

Confessions Of An SR-71 Blackbird Pilot

By The War Zone: What it was like to sit at the controls of the Skunk Works' legendary Blackbird while hurtling over hostile territory at Mach 3.3.

1 Source

2026-10-28T09:05:53.087145-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Europe General Atomics Industry Leader Profiles & Interviews

Breaking Defense • Breaking Defense Video

How General Atomics views Europe's unmanned future

By Breaking Defense: In this fireside chat, Dave Alexander of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems talks through his company's strategy for the European market.

1 Source

2026-10-28T09:04:47.321049-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs SAAB AI General Atomics Defense Industry & Major Contractors

NEW

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

MQ-9B drone tracks fighter jets at long range with Saab’s LoyalEye radar

By AeroTime: General Atomics and Saab say an MQ-9B drone equipped with LoyalEye radar tracked fighter jets, commercial aircraft and maritime targets in flight tests.

Also: The Aviationist

3 Sources

2026-10-28T09:34:32.641352-07:00

aviation UAV Development & Drone Programs North America

Bloomberg • Arvelisse Bonilla Ramos

Drone Stocks Face Deeper Drop as Midterm Blue Wave Risks Grow

By Bloomberg: Shares of drone makers and suppliers, once the hottest names in the US stock market, are poised to fall further as investors worry a blue wave in the US midterm elections could squeeze funding for the industry.

1 Source

2026-10-28T08:05:21.483429-07:00

Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Asia-Pacific (APAC) Defense Policy

Reuters • Tamiyuki Kihara

(JA) Japan and Germany leaders meet; Merz signals interest in fighter jet development program, while Takaichi raises strong concerns over EV issue

By Reuters: 高市早苗首相とドイツのメルツ首相は２８日、首相官邸で会談した。人工知能（ＡＩ）や重要鉱物など幅広い分野で戦略的連携を強化することで一致する中、メルツ氏は日英伊３カ国が進める戦闘機共同開発への参画に意欲を示した。日本外務省によると、高市‌氏は日本側が懸念する日本製電気自動車（ＥＶ）が欧州で優遇措置の対象外となる問題について強い懸念を伝えた。.

1 Source

2026-10-28T07:28:27.690200-07:00

China Satellite Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

2026-10-28T04:30:49.190519-07:00

aviation Military Aircraft Procurement

AINonline • Hanneke Weitering

Components Ready for Starfighters’ F-104 Mach 2 Testbed

By AINonline: Italian-made parts will form underwing carriers for ’Wind Tunnel in the Sky’.

1 Source

2026-10-28T06:04:57.937239-07:00

Putin praises Musk as Russia begins rolling out a Starlink counterpart

Confessions Of An SR-71 Blackbird Pilot

How General Atomics views Europe's unmanned future

MQ-9B drone tracks fighter jets at long range with Saab’s LoyalEye radar

Drone Stocks Face Deeper Drop as Midterm Blue Wave Risks Grow

(JA) Japan and Germany leaders meet; Merz signals interest in fighter jet development program, while Takaichi raises strong concerns over EV issue

U.S. intelligence report publishes clear image of China’s secretive spaceplane

U.S. Military Releases Image of China’s Space Plane Docked in Orbit

New Report Flags Chinese Spaceplane Development

Components Ready for Starfighters’ F-104 Mach 2 Testbed

MQ-9B drone tracks fighter jets at long range with Saab’s LoyalEye radar

How General Atomics views Europe's unmanned future

Confessions Of An SR-71 Blackbird Pilot

Putin salutes Musk's genius as Russia plays catch-up with Starlink

Drone Stocks Face Deeper Drop as Midterm Blue Wave Risks Grow

(JA) Japan and Germany leaders meet; Merz signals interest in fighter jet development program, while Takaichi raises strong concerns over EV issue

Startup Biosphere wins Pentagon contract to scale up production of key chemicals

The attrition advantage: Why passive mobility is essential for resilient sensor architectures

Shield Space Launches UK Space Superiority Coalition

Ukraine's Starlink woes spur Europe to look for non-Musk alternatives

Philippines grounds SF-260 fleet after training collision kills four pilots

US Air Force awards Lockheed Martin $694 million to put once-canceled ARRW hypersonic missile into production

Cosmos 2612’s close approach to ICEYE-X36 raises questions about NATO’s response to Russian space operations

Astroscale proposes 'bodyguard' spacecraft to protect satellites from orbital attacks

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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