Drones of the Berlin Air Show, plus a window into Europe’s space ambitions
This week on The Break Out, a brief review of small unmanned systems as well as space-launch options showcased at ILA Berlin 2026.
Austria military’s first satellite will hunt for GPS, Galileo interference
The European Space Agency also is kicking in funds for the BEACONSAT, being developed by Austrian startup GATE Space.
On-demand webinar: Research security in an era of global competition
Watch experts discuss foreign influence risks, evolving DoD policy, and strategies for balancing security with scientific collaboration.
Europe’s time to shine in space? 2026 preview
Germany is sprinting to pump up its military space systems, perhaps changing the balance of power in setting European-wide priorities.
Five stories that surprised the space world: 2025 review
'Unsettled' is a polite word for 2025 in the space domain.
ESA leaders greenlight $1.6 billion for new ‘non-aggressive’ space security initiative
ESA's ruling Council of Ministers approved a whopping $25.7B in funds over the next three years — a 32 percent increase over the previous three-year budget.
US slams ‘discriminatory’ draft EU space law as imperiling NATO cooperation
The State Department's damning critique argues that, if enacted, the draft law would imperil cooperation on "space weather, remote sensing, space exploration, spaceflight safety, space debris mitigation and remediation, [and] communications."
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MQ-9B and Gambit Series: Advancing European Defense Capabilities
GA-ASI will build Gambit aircraft in Europe, partnered with European-based companies, with airframes available for international procurement starting in 2027.
In historic shift, ESA poised to take on defense role
Since its founding 50 years ago, the European Space Agency has shunned involvement in military space activities.
Europe’s strategic autonomy push fuels space mega-merger
"Project Bromo is a sovereignty play," Caleb Henry, research director at Quilty Space, told Breaking Defense.
Germany inks Artemis Accords, citing ‘security impact’ in space
Germany is not the first European country to join, but as a political and economic center of the continent, Berlin's move could convince several others to follow suit.
Spurred by Ukraine war, 18 Western countries plan to share remote sensing data
"Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the importance of a persistent space surveillance capability," said the United Kingdom, as European nations (and Canada) band together.
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Automation vs autonomy: What will shape the future of battlefield drones?
While humans must stay in the loop for kinetic decisions, empowering drones to operate autonomously is a force multiplier.
The next energy frontier: A race for solar power from space?
The concept of solar power satellites, first posited in 1968, seems to be back in fashion — not just in the US with initiatives at DoD and NASA, but around the globe, including in Beijing.