Contracts for the next-generation Tranche 3, which will replace the earliest Transport Layer satellites, have been paused until the Space Force study is completed, five sources with knowledge of the program told Breaking Defense.
The MILNET contract with SpaceX is being paid for by the Space Force but managed by the National Reconnaissance Office, sources said.
As threats rapidly evolve, digital engineering, manufacturing capacity and robust supply chains are critical to meeting challenges.
The June 16 letter asserts that the cuts will undercut the Pentagon's Golden Dome plan to create an air and missile defense shield over the US homeland.
Beyond the potential consequences for the US industry, a reduction in NRO acquisition of commercial imagery also could directly impact US and allied military commanders in the field and US agencies charged with disaster relief, industry and government officials warned.
Based on its orbital pattern, independent astronomer Marco Langbroek said he suspected the new satellite is joining other Russian "sleeping interceptors."
Muon Space CEO Jonny Dyer told Breaking Defense that while the five-year-old startup is working in both the civil and defense sectors, the growth trend is on the defense side.
Government can’t stop to update systems, so modernization has to happen without interruptions.
Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman stressed that the commercial imagery the Space Force gathers will not be used directly for targeting, rather to allow commanders to rapidly understand evolving situations.
During a HASC strategic forces subcommittee meeting Wednesday, Ranking Member Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., expressed concern that OMB has "slashed" NRO's budget for acquiring commercial imagery.
"Going back to pre-Ukraine supplemental procurement levels would see the USG buying only a small fraction of the US commercial SAR capacity available; hardly enough to support combat operations or sustain a healthy US industrial base," said David Gauthier.
Officials from the National Reconnaissance Office and Missile Defense Agency pulled out of the Satellite 2025/GovMilSpace conference, despite it being in downtown Washington.
Breaking Defense Europe will launch May 4 with Tim Martin and Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo as co-editors.
However, several industry sources said that their companies have not been blocked by NRO from taking pictures over Ukraine.
License holders are receiving emails saying that all correspondence with the Commercial Remote Sensing for Regulatory Affairs is now being routed to the NOAA Office of General Counsel as no "senior personnel remain in the office," according to communications reviewed by Breaking Defense.
The selection of Meink is likely of interest to top Trump ally Elon Musk, whose SpaceX business will deal directly with the new Air Force secretary.
"The issues that bother me more are not just Space Force-related. It's just the experience base across the whole Department of Defense," Frank Calvelli, Air Force space acquisition czar, told Breaking Defense in an exclusive exit interview on Tuesday.