Tag: military satellites
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South Korea Readies Mir Rocket Debut as China Lines Up Four Launches This Week
The Mir demonstration, tracked by Next Spaceflight for Wednesday, November 4, would mark the debut of a rocket South Korea’s defense ministry has developed since 2021. South Korean officials have committed only to flying before the end of the year. The demo was originally set for June 30 but slipped over safety concerns. The week…
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Space Force Plans $946 Million Sole-Source Award to Boeing for Satellite Sustainment
The Space Force determined that Boeing holds the proprietary technical data and software needed to carry out the sustainment and modernization effort, which the service used to justify awarding the contract without competition. The contract covers maintenance and modernization of military communications satellites as well as the associated ground systems. The total value is capped…
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Northrop Grumman Delivers 21 Transport Layer Satellites to Vandenberg for Space Force Constellation
The Transport Layer is designed to include hundreds of Low-Earth Orbit satellites to speed secure military communications. Together with the Tracking Layer for missile deterrence, it forms the two major components of SDA’s future Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. Tranche 1 of the Transport Layer is to have 126 satellites, split evenly among three prime contractors:…
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U.S. Space Command Conducts First Multi-Orbit Dynamic Satellite Maneuver Exercise
U.S. Space Command has completed its first exercise dedicated to dynamically maneuvering operational spacecraft across low Earth orbit, medium Earth orbit and geosynchronous orbit, testing how military satellites in multiple orbital regimes could be repositioned as part of a coordinated operation. The exercise used actual spacecraft rather than relying solely on simulations. U.S. Space Command…
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Space Force Expands Space-Based Air Tracking Vendor Pool to 12 Companies
The U.S. Space Force’s Space-Based Airborne Moving Target Indicator program has expanded to 12 participating companies, with Blue Origin, Boeing and commercial radar-satellite operator Umbra appearing in public contract records alongside nine previously identified vendors. The broader supplier pool gives the service additional spacecraft, sensor, processing and integration options as it works toward fielding an…
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Space Force Deploys Project Enigma Digital Engineering Platform for Nuclear Command Satellite Program
Space Systems Command has placed a secure digital engineering environment into operation to support development of the Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications system, the U.S. Space Force’s next-generation satellite network for nuclear command, control and communications. Announced on July 28, 2026, Project Enigma connects contractor engineering environments with a government-hosted platform designed for classified collaboration. The…
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Boeing Wins $2 Billion Space Force Contract for Next MUOS Military Communications Satellites
The U.S. Space Force has awarded Boeing a $2 billion contract to develop the next generation of Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) communications satellites as part of an effort to extend the operational life of the military’s narrowband satellite communications network. The contract supports Phase II of the MUOS Service Life Extension program and includes…
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Poland Deploys New Military Satellite as European Space Defense Expands
What Does Poland’s New Military Satellite Mean for European Space Defense? Poland successfully deployed its newest military satellite into orbit on May 3, 2026, marking a significant expansion of the nation’s space-based defense capabilities. The satellite, part of Poland’s broader military modernization program valued at over $3 billion annually, enhances the country’s intelligence gathering, surveillance,…
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Sweden Deploys First Military Reconnaissance Satellite
Sweden has successfully deployed its first dedicated military reconnaissance satellite, achieving orbital insertion on May 3, 2026, marking the Nordic nation’s entry into sovereign space-based intelligence capabilities. The satellite, launched aboard a European launch vehicle into a sun-synchronous polar orbit at approximately 600 km altitude, represents a €200 million investment in Sweden’s national defense infrastructure.…