Defense News

Satellite Space Force Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Space Force awards first operational satellite-surveillance backup contracts to six companies

The U.S. Space Force has awarded its first operational contracts under a program that will enlist commercial satellite operators to provide surveillance support during military crises. The awards mark a move from program design to contracted capability, though the available report does not identify the six companies or disclose contract values.

Also: Business Insider, insidedefense.com and Air & Space Forces Mag

4 Sources

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

Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Deals

Breaking Defense • Tim Martin

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

By Breaking Defense: Copenhagen said it would purchase Joint Strike Missiles for its F-35s and a new ground-launched munition from an American firm.

1 Source

2026-10-22T11:04:42.902964-07:00

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, FlightGlobal, AeroTime, Air Data News, Wall Street Journal, Air & Space Forces Mag, Aviation Week, Stars and Stripes, defence-blog.com, Seapower Magazine, aeromorning.com and 14 more

40 Sources

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

Middle East Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

The War Zone • Ian Ellis-Jones

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

By The War Zone: Satellite imagery depicts new construction and cleared wreckage after strikes at an Iranian airbase with underground hangars and taxiway tunnels.

1 Source

2026-10-22T07:28:25.086561-07:00

Europe Embraer

Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

Portuguese KC-390s to refuel Spanish fighters under new bilateral agreement

By Air Data News: Spain’s Eurofighters and F-18s are compatible with the tanker’s hose-and-drogue system, unlike Portugal’s own F-16s Portugal and Spain have approved a bilateral agreement that will allow Portuguese Air Force Embraer C-390 Millennium transport aircraft equipped for aerial refueling to support Spanish military aircraft.

4 Sources

2026-10-22T07:35:00.897073-07:00

L3Harris Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Axios • Colin Demarest

L3Harris opens robotic rocket motor factory in Arkansas

By Axios: The preexisting L3Harris footprint in Camden, Arkansas, includes 100-plus buildings across 2,000 acres.

1 Source

2026-10-22T08:28:38.693737-07:00

aviation Bombardier North America Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

ch-aviation • Sanja Stefanjesko

US president takes back threats against Canada's Bombardier

By ch-aviation: Discover more news on Bombardier Aerospace at ch-aviation, the leading aviation news and data provider.

1 Source

2026-10-22T07:05:42.802111-07:00

Helicopter Military Aircraft Procurement Orders

FlightGlobal • Lizzie Rix

Argentina’s military accepts sixth and final Bell 407GXi

By FlightGlobal: The helicopters will help to enhance operational capability. The Argentinian armed forces have received their sixth Bell 407GXi, completing a process initiated in 2023.

1 Source

2026-10-22T06:05:29.759767-07:00

Space Force awards first operational satellite-surveillance backup contracts to six companies

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

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

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

Portuguese KC-390s to refuel Spanish fighters under new bilateral agreement

L3Harris opens robotic rocket motor factory in Arkansas

US president takes back threats against Canada's Bombardier

Argentina’s military accepts sixth and final Bell 407GXi

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

Space Force taps six companies to provide satellite surveillance backup

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

Portuguese KC-390s to refuel Spanish fighters under new bilateral agreement

L3Harris opens robotic rocket motor factory in Arkansas

US president takes back threats against Canada's Bombardier

Skyfly Secures $10 million To Commercialize Axe personal eVTOL aircraft

BlackSky announces Gen-3 contract with international defense agency

Space Force scrambles as Musk’s SpaceX retires its major rocket

Lockheed, Pentagon strike initial deal to produce 850 F-35 jets

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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