Defense

Kill the zombie Space National Guard idea

Guardsmen in space-related jobs belong in the Space Force.

  • Todd Harrison

Why DOD’s network agency is SATCOM-curious

The Defense Information Systems Agency is experimenting with multiple satellite communications providers as it works to make the network more resilient.

  • Lauren C. Williams

Starlink battleground as both sides in Ukraine war using satellite internet, raising concerns

Unverified reports suggest Starlink use by Russia could slow service for Ukraine, potentially impacting the war's course.

  • Carter Palmer, Forecast International

Chinese satellites are breaking the US 'monopoly' on long-range targeting

China “has rapidly advanced in space in a way that few people can appreciate,” Space Force official says.

  • Audrey Decker

Russian space nuke could render low-Earth orbit unusable for a year, US official says

Pentagon’s space-policy leader noted with concern Moscow’s recent veto of a UN resolution against putting nuclear weapons in space.

  • Audrey Decker

Pentagon canceled Northrop’s classified satellite program due to ‘budgetary concerns’

Its CEO also said the company won’t compete to build cheap, non-survivable drones.

  • Audrey Decker

RTX moves away from competing as a prime for space contracts

COO: “We've got some other strengths in some of the key components that go in the prime satellites and buses.”

  • Audrey Decker

In a budgetary first, Air Force will launch two programs without asking Congress in advance

The service is using a power granted by lawmakers in the 2024 NDAA.

  • Audrey Decker

Space Force outlines vision for hybrid military-commercial-allied mission architectures

New strategy offers guidance on what the USSF wants to buy, but not how much it plans to spend.

  • Lauren C. Williams

US-China mil-to-mil thaw reaches space

Beijing has reached out on space safety, says U.S. Space Command leader, who also issued warnings about new PLA capabilities.

  • Audrey Decker

‘Military force’ could be directed to protect private sector orbital assets, DOD strategy says

The Pentagon’s first-ever commercial space integration strategy said the department would take steps to “mitigate risks to commercial space actors.”

  • Edward Graham

Spy agency ready to launch new vehicle-tracking satellites

After tests go well, NRO director looks to start replacing JSTARS aircraft with orbital sensors.

  • Audrey Decker

China’s moon plans worry Space Force

New orbits could open “potential attack vectors” on US satellites, general says.

  • Audrey Decker

Space Force seeks orbital-refueling tech in new budget

But spending caps will slow counterspace efforts, space chief says in interview.

  • Audrey Decker

Chinese space, nuclear development is ‘breathtakingly fast,’ DOD officials warn

Heads of STRATCOM, Space Command discuss growing nuclear, space dangers.

  • Patrick Tucker

Russian space nuke wouldn’t alter US orbital-network plans, Space Force says

The nascent Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture is built on the idea that lots of satellites offer plenty of redundancy.

  • Audrey Decker

Space Force: We need a hotline to China

Direct communications could ward off miscalculation as space militarizes faster than norms develop, officials say.

  • Audrey Decker

Is Russia putting an anti-satellite nuke in space?

A long-ago U.S. test showed the kind of havoc that could wreak in orbit.

  • Patrick Tucker

First Space Force guardian to be launched into space this summer

Col. Nick Hague will be part of a six-month mission for NASA.

  • Audrey Decker

Northrop to eat $1.2B on B-21 program

The CEO says the company has now learned not to underbid on fixed-price contracts.

  • Audrey Decker

Inside Space Force's budget priorities and patterns

The military's youngest service branch is emphasizing satellites, research and development, and resiliency in its budget.

  • Nick Wakeman