The Austrian Ministry of Defense has announced the launch of its first satellite, BEACONSAT, developed by Vienna-based startup GATE Space. The satellite will be launched from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in 2027, according to the MoD and company leaders.
Ukraine has expanded its cooperation with Finnish synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite operator ICEYE under a new agreement that broadens access to high-resolution radar imagery for day- and night-time tactical decision-making. The deal sustains a high volume of satellite imagery from ICEYE's SAR constellation, providing the Ukrainian Armed Forces with persistent situational awareness at operational tempo.
SWISSto12, a Swiss satellite maker, has secured €73 million in funding from the European Space Agency (ESA) to support its industrial rollout plan. The company manufactures small geo-stationary satellites and lightweight radio-frequency systems using patented 3D technologies.
Sweden will invest 15 billion Swedish crowns (about $1.6 billion) in strengthening its air defense capabilities, with a focus on safeguarding civilian populations and critical infrastructure from aerial threats. According to AeroTime, Defense Minister Pal Jonson emphasized the need for robust air defense following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Sweden has announced plans to invest $1.6 billion in new homeland air defense units, with the explicit purpose of better protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure. The initiative draws heavily on lessons from the war in Ukraine and will mainly consist of short-range systems.
Following a Technology Safeguards Agreement signed between Sweden and the US, Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and Firefly Aerospace are moving closer to launching their first satellite from Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden. The agreement provides the legal and technical framework for U.
The Space Force plans to develop its own next-generation surveillance satellite constellation, separate from the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). According to Col.
The Space Force is urging lawmakers to speed up improvements and launch new GPS III satellites that can better withstand growing adversary jamming and spoofing threats. Despite steady progress in GPS updates, lawmakers on both sides of Capitol Hill fret that the current strategy is not moving fast enough.
The US Air Force is preparing to award multiple contracts for developing and fielding satellites that can track aircraft and drones, according to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink. The program aims to deliver capability quickly and will involve multiple contractors.
The US Space Force is planning to buy new RG-XX neighborhood watch satellites on a rolling basis under an ID/IQ contract type, according to Col. Byron McClain, program executive officer for Space Combat Power at Space Systems Command (SSC).
The Space Force has announced plans to accelerate its Airborne Moving Target Indicator (AMTI) program, which aims to track airborne targets using space-based sensors. The program received a $2 billion funding boost in FY26, pending approval.
The US Space Force has awarded Starfish Space a $54.5 million contract to provide the second Otter satellite-servicing craft for dynamic space operations in geosynchronous Earth orbit. The contract is funded via the Defense Department's APFIT program, which aims to speed up procurement and fielding of innovative technologies.
The Space Development Agency's Tracking Layer program is facing challenges due to overestimation of technology readiness, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The agency has awarded contracts worth $4.
The Space Development Agency (SDA) announced four new contracts worth $3.5 billion for 72 new satellites as part of the Tranche 3 constellation. The Other Transaction Authority (OTA) awards went to teams led by Lockheed Martin, Rocket Lab USA, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris Technologies.
As Europe begins to invest more in military space capabilities, British thermal imagery startup SatVu and Spanish tech firm GMV are among the latest companies to benefit from the trend. SatVu secured $40 million in funding from the NATO Innovation Fund, while GMV expanded its space surveillance program with a new satellite tracking antenna.
Rocket Lab successfully launched the first satellites for Open Cosmos, a new constellation being developed by the company. According to SpaceNews, the launch utilizes spectrum previously assigned to Rivada Space Networks.
Open Cosmos has activated Ka-band spectrum filings, deploying two satellites to meet deployment deadlines for sovereign and enterprise broadband. This move comes after Liechtenstein reassigned the frequencies from Rivada, according to SpaceNews reports.
The National Reconnaissance Office has awarded the first three contracts under its Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) program for commercial imagery providers. HEO, SatVu, and Sierra Nevada Corporation were selected to provide up-close imagery, thermal imaging, and radio-frequency geolocation data.
Europe is poised to launch its first satellite from the mainland, thanks to the efforts of launch operators who are crucial to the success of spaceports like SaxaVord and Andøya. According to SpaceNews, these operators will play a key role in galvanizing the European space industry, which has long relied on the Guiana Space Centre in South America for its launch needs.
The Global Positioning System has been the backbone of the modern world for decades, powering everything from stock trades to power grids. The U.
Germany has released its first-ever national security space strategy, which envisions a plethora of new military capabilities to boost Berlin's capacity to act independently in space. The initiative draws heavily on lessons from Ukraine and aims to enhance Germany's deterrence and defense capabilities as well as those of NATO Allies and European partners.
The German Ministry of Defence has awarded a €1.7 billion contract to Finnish firm ICEYE and German defense contractor Rheinmetall for the development of a new synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation. The contract runs from 2025 to 2030 with options to extend, according to Breaking Defense reports.
The French government has awarded Loft Orbital a €50 million contract to develop its first sovereign SAR satellite, marking a significant shift in strategy for Paris. The program will see the development and launch of a single demonstration satellite, with Thales Alenia Space and TEKEVER France contributing to the SAR sensor payload.
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has published a solicitation for commercially developed imagery satellites to support on-orbit spying capabilities. The Geosynchronous High-Resolution Optical Space-Based Tactical Reconnaissance program aims to reduce costs compared to existing programs and provide high-resolution image collection, increased collection frequency, and detailed characterization of resident space objects in GEO.
D-Orbit, an Italian space logistics specialist, has secured $124 million in the first closing of a Series D investment round announced Jan. 22. Breaking News reports that the funding will be used to drive strategic acquisitions and accelerate the build-out of its orbital logistics infrastructure.
According to Chief Master Sergeant Ron Lerch, senior enlisted advisor to the deputy chief of space operations for intelligence, China and Russia are experimenting with stealth technologies aimed at making it harder for radar and telescopes to find their satellites. The Chinese military has been experimenting with shaping microsatellites since 2012, while Russia recently orbited an experimental satellite called Mozhayets in medium Earth orbit with very low visibility.
Blue Origin plans to reuse a New Glenn booster on the rocket's next launch, marking the first time the company will attempt this feat. According to SpaceNews, the reusable booster will carry a satellite for AST SpaceMobile.
Ariane 6 successfully launched two Galileo satellites from Kourou on December 17, 2025, marking another step in the gradual buildup of Europe's next-generation launch system. Manufactured by OHB System AG, each satellite weighs approximately 700 kg at launch and is designed for an operational lifetime of 12 years.
Oman is taking a significant leap forward in its space ambitions with the signing of a landmark agreement with Airbus Defence and Space to develop OMANSAT-1, the country's first high-capacity communications satellite. The satellite will provide comprehensive communications coverage across Oman, including its territorial waters, while extending services to the broader Middle East, East Africa, and Asia regions.
Airbus Defence and Space has secured a contract from Eutelsat to produce an additional 340 OneWeb satellites, bringing the total ordered from December 2024 onward to 440. The new batch will be built at Airbus' Toulouse facility on a newly established production line.