To overcome Golden Dome ‘affordability’ hurdle, DoD needs acquisition reform, AI: Official
Marcia Holmes, DoD deputy director for Golden Dome, said AI and autonomy will "change how we deploy and use our weapons."
SpaceX to launch next SDA missile tracking satellites
SpaceX will launch 36 Tranche 2 Tracking Layer satellites — 18 built by L3Harris and 18 built by Lockheed Martin — plus eight FOO Fighter birds built by Millennium Space Systems.
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SDA awards four contracts worth $3.5B for next-gen missile tracking satellites
Lockheed Martin, Rocket Lab USA, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris Technologies each won awards to "deliver and operate 18 space vehicles" for the Space Development Agency's Tranche 3 Tracking Layer.
Germany’s first space security strategy aims at independent defensive, offensive capabilities
The new strategy calls on German MoD to develop a number of new space-based capabilities, including "effectors" to counter adversary threats on orbit such as agile spaceplanes and "bodyguard" satellites with shoot-back systems.
Funding for SDA’s next missile tracking contracts diverted to troop payments: Sources
"When the funding will be authorized, given the shutdown and all the fun there, is a question mark," one industry source told Breaking Defense.
Firefly to buy SciTec with eye on Golden Dome
One analyst told Breaking Defense Golden Dome "is a motivator for sure, but this deal also provides Firefly with diversified revenue streams."
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Data overload threatens decisionmakers as autonomy expands
Reducing cognitive overload on warfighters while improving “time to trust” for autonomous systems is a matter of design.
EXCLUSIVE: SDA eyeing airborne target tracking satellites demonstration, says Tournear
"I would say that we are at the point now where the technology has matured and it's commoditized, so that radar based AMTI from space is feasible," outgoing SDA Director Derek Tournear told Breaking Defense in an exclusive interview.
Space Force creates new ‘System Deltas’ to guide missile warning, space-based targeting efforts
The move is part of a long-running effort by Space Systems Command to reorganize acquisition programs along mission area lines, syncing up with the structure of the service's main operational arm, Space Operations Command.
Space Force FORGEing ahead with missile warning ground system
Space Systems Command (SSC) in recent weeks has issued a flurry of contracts for the key hardware and software "thrusts" that make up the FORGE program, following a restructuring in 2023 that broke the effort into more manageable pieces.
Contracts for SSC’s next iteration of MEO missile tracking satellites delayed
"Unfortunately, we were, we were slowed down a bit by uncertainty in our budget," said SSC's Col. Rob Davis, delaying awards for Epoch 2 of the Resilient Missile Warning/Missile Tracking — MEO program by about three months.
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SDA opens contest for 54 ‘Tranche 3’ missile tracking satellites
According to the formal solicitation posted on SAM.gov, SDA is looking to make three awards for 18 satellites each.
Too soon? GAO questions tech readiness of satellite laser links
The Space Development Agency "has taken steps to develop laser communications technology but has not yet fully demonstrated it in space," finds a report released today by the Government Accountability Office.
SDA asks industry to propose 60-day studies of ‘novel’ capabilities for Iron Dome
The SDA call for studies on speeding HBTSS "missile defense capabilities" is interesting, as its wording differs somewhat from language in an earlier solicitation from the Missile Defense Agency for proposals that appears to refer to an HBTSS satellite constellation.
SSC picks Millennium to replace RTX for missile warning satellites
"When one of our two industry partners struggled with delivering on cost and schedule, we were able to quickly pivot and still maintain program progress by turning to the performing vendor," Col. Rob Davis, program executive officer for SSC's Space Sensing Directorate, said.