Amazon, OneWeb slowly stalk SpaceX for piece of Pentagon SATCOM pie

Amazon, OneWeb slowly stalk SpaceX for piece of Pentagon SATCOM pie
Amazon, OneWeb slowly stalk SpaceX for piece of Pentagon SATCOM pie

Amazon recently launched the first two prototypes for its Project Kuiper; OneWeb now has all 634 satellites it needs to provide global internet access.

A Musk monopoly? For now, Ukraine has few options outside Starlink for battlefield satcoms

A Musk monopoly? For now, Ukraine has few options outside Starlink for battlefield satcoms
A Musk monopoly? For now, Ukraine has few options outside Starlink for battlefield satcoms

“I think everyone agrees that if there’s a reasonable cost-based argument that paying for use does make sense,” industry analyst Tim Farrar said. But “I think Elon has made that more difficult rather than less difficult because you don’t normally negotiate your weapons contracts on Twitter.”

Airbus U.S. nabs subcontract for SDA’s mesh communications satellites

Airbus U.S. nabs subcontract for SDA’s mesh communications satellites
Airbus U.S. nabs subcontract for SDA’s mesh communications satellites

For Northrop, Airbus U.S. is supplying a larger, higher power version of its commercial ARROW bus, being built at its joint production facility with OneWeb in Florida.

Eyes wide open: Airbus eyes growing US market for space-related optical systems

Eyes wide open: Airbus eyes growing US market for space-related optical systems
Eyes wide open: Airbus eyes growing US market for space-related optical systems

“I’m focusing on laser communication terminals because I think that’s the strongest candidate to build in the US,” Rob Geckle, CEO of Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, told Breaking Defense.

Hughes wins bid for 5G/satellite network under DoD experiment

Hughes wins bid for 5G/satellite network under DoD experiment
Hughes wins bid for 5G/satellite network under DoD experiment

For DoD applications, 5G needs high levels of cybersecurity. Stand-alone 5G networks, like the Hughes network, are inherently more secure than older networks where 5G is added onto the existing network,” Rajeev Gopal, vice president, Advanced Programs, told Breaking Defense.

Addressing 5G National Security Risks Must Include Satellite Security

Addressing 5G National Security Risks Must Include Satellite Security
Addressing 5G National Security Risks Must Include Satellite Security

As the US and its partners try to exploit the benefits of 5G networks for future national security uses, the focus has largely been on security terrestrial networks. But in this analysis, Melissa K. Griffith of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars argues that those worried about 5G security need to aim higher. What…

Space Force Eyes Commercial P-LEO SATCOM

Space Force Eyes Commercial P-LEO SATCOM
Space Force Eyes Commercial P-LEO SATCOM

“If the Space Systems Command is going to acquire other commercial services in the same fashion that CSCO has been acquiring commercial SATCOM, then that will not serve the warfighter well,” said Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch, senior vice president for government strategy and policy at Inmarsat.

Eye On JADC2, Lockheed Explores Unique 5G-SATCOM Network

Eye On JADC2, Lockheed Explores Unique 5G-SATCOM Network
Eye On JADC2, Lockheed Explores Unique 5G-SATCOM Network

It’s sort of like we’re exclusively dating. We agreed to not see other people right now but we haven’t committed to anything else yet,” explained one Lockheed Martin official.

Trump Directive A ‘Wakeup Call’ For 5G Satellite Cybersecurity

Trump Directive A ‘Wakeup Call’ For 5G Satellite Cybersecurity
Trump Directive A ‘Wakeup Call’ For 5G Satellite Cybersecurity

“Rather than imposing specific requirements, SPD-5 affords all government stakeholders a policy framework to implement prudent practices to enhance resilience, including specific efforts to work with the commercial space sector overall and promote information sharing. That’s an improvement from the status quo,” Andrew D’Uva, US industry chair of the Space Force/NSA’s Commercial Space INFOSEC Working Group (CSIWG) says.

Airbus Targets NRO Imagery Sales With New US Corporate Entity

Airbus Targets NRO Imagery Sales With New US Corporate Entity
Airbus Targets NRO Imagery Sales With New US Corporate Entity

“As you know, from Airbus we have a pedigree  — we’re probably the leader in commercial SAR capabilities,” says Chris Emerson, CEO of the new Airbus U.S. Space & Defense. 

Most Satellite Operators Fail To Follow Space Debris Rules: NASA

Most Satellite Operators Fail To Follow Space Debris Rules: NASA
Most Satellite Operators Fail To Follow Space Debris Rules: NASA

“I think we need to recognize that the space domain has evolved over the past several years,” says Secure World Foundation’s Victoria Samson. “And then our governance needs to evolve with that.”

Griffin: DoD Can’t Rely on Commercial Satellite Communications

Griffin: DoD Can’t Rely on Commercial Satellite Communications
Griffin: DoD Can’t Rely on Commercial Satellite Communications

Griffin’s seeming skepticism about commercial ventures to provide global broadband and Internet services is in stark contrast to the enthusiasm bubbling out of the Air Force and the Army. 

‘Sizable Dollars’ For ABMS Likely in 2021 Request: Roper

‘Sizable Dollars’ For ABMS Likely in 2021 Request: Roper
‘Sizable Dollars’ For ABMS Likely in 2021 Request: Roper

Roper says he hopes Congress “will smile on the Air Force for breaking out of ‘Platform Land’ and actually putting money towards digital transformation.”

Securing The Space Cloud: It’s Really Hard

Securing The Space Cloud: It’s Really Hard
Securing The Space Cloud: It’s Really Hard

“Security in space is different than security on Earth,” says Jeb Linton of IBM Watson. “If you lose command and control for even five minutes, your satellite could be completely shut down.”