Focus on Defense

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A constellation for every nation. That's the headline and the argument of a new column by the team at AlixPartners, looking at the pivotal decisions that aerospace and defense leaders face in a sovereign-space era. "Governments everywhere are waking up to a single, urgent reality: sovereign control of space-based capabilities is no longer optional; it is strategic survival." It's a strong assessment of the strategic landscape, with implications for national defense strategies.

Also in this edition, Boeing spoke with Via Satellite about its work to establish a new electro-optical infrared sensor (EO/IR) production line to support Missile Warning and Tracking (MWT) satellites for the United States Space Force. And, AST SpaceMobile snagged the first prototype contract from the Space Development Agency under the Europa program. The company will use its BlueBird commercial satellite constellation for the series of resilient tactical satellite communications demonstrations.

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Rachel Jewett
Senior Managing Editor, Via Satellite

A Constellation for Every Nation
An increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape is forcing nations to rethink space — fast. Alliances once assumed to be stable now look precarious. Supply chains once… [Read More]
Boeing Adds a $10M EO/IR Production Line at Satellite Facility
Boeing is ramping up satellite production at its facility in El Segundo, California, opening a new electro-optical infrared sensor (EO/IR) production line to meet increasing… [Read More]
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GovMilSpace 2026 | U.S. Space Force Sets the Future of Strategic SATCOM
 

The second edition of GovMilSpace opens with a U.S. Space Force S2 Threat Brief and keynote from CMSgt Ron Lerch, grounding the week in today’s operational and intelligence priorities. That is followed by a Strategic SATCOM session as part of Space Systems Command’s Reverse Industry Day, where leaders from SSC Delta 88, Space Delta 8, and OUSD(A&S) explain how the U.S. plans to partner with industry to build, acquire, and sustain next-generation SATCOM architectures through 2035 and beyond.

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AST SpaceMobile Nabs First Space Development Agency Award Under Europa Effort
The Space Development Agency (SDA) on Monday said it has awarded a $30 million prototype contract to AST SpaceMobile to demonstrate low-latency tactical satellite communications using the… [Read More]
MDA Space Launches New Subsidiary for Defense Contracting, 49North
Canadian satellite manufacturer MDA Space launched 49North on Thursday, a new subsidiary exclusively for defense services. The new company will provide command, control, communications, computers,… [Read More]
MTN Becomes Newest Provider of SpaceX’s Government Connectivity Services
SpaceX has authorized network operator MTN to provide satellite connectivity services to its government and defense clients, MTN said on Wednesday. MTN’s new services are… [Read More]
Aalyria Posts $100M Series B Funding Round
Aalyria reported $100 million in funding from its Series B financing round, placing the aerospace communications provider at a $1.3 billion valuation. Battery Ventures and… [Read More]