France taps Loft Orbital to develop nation’s first ‘sovereign’ SAR satellite
The program is aimed at providing "a critical technology for the armed forces and for France’s strategic autonomy," according to Loft's announcement today.
Germany awards ICEYE, Rheinmetall almost $2B for new SAR satellite network
For ICEYE, the German deal is the latest in a handful of high-profile sales to European militaries as the continent moves out on a collective effort to establish "strategic autonomy" in from the United States in the space domain.
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Commercial ISR satellite operators petition Congress to reverse NRO cuts
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.
US cuts to commercial space imagery could endanger ‘long-term health’ of industry, say insiders
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.
‘Hell of a body blow:’ Ukraine shift may stir market headwinds for US SAR-sat operators
"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.
Emirati consortium to launch first satellite of Sirb constellation by late 2026, early 2027: Exec
The project, called Sirb in a reference to the Arabic term for flock of birds, is to eventually put three UAE-made synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites into low Earth orbit.
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And then there were 3: NRO extends contracts for radar imagery to Capella, ICEYE, Umbra
The new Stage III contracts are expected by industry officials to be the last of the short term, relatively small dollar awards under the SCC BAA — with senior NRO officials pushing to create a longer term program of record in the fiscal 2026 budget.
German MoD picks up tab for ICEYE-Rheinmetall SAR-sat data sales to Ukraine
"The collaboration includes dedicated satellite capacity and constellation access, which allows the capacity of the entire ICEYE satellite fleet to be utilized," according to a Rheinmetall press release.
US SAR satellite imagery firms say draft ITAR changes still too restrictive
"[W]e won't be able to sell the premium technology, which means we'll be out competed by [Finland's] ICEYE and other competitors in the global market," Umbra's Jason Mallare told Breaking Defense.
Italy, US space cooperation plan includes launch, domain awareness
Citing new space-based threats, Rome and Washington pledge to work more closely in orbit and are paving the way for US space launches from Italian soil.
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AFRL seeks ‘advanced’ ISR sensors, including for moving targets
Under the Science and Technology Applied RF Systems program, estimated to cost a total of nearly $95 million over six years, AFRL is looking to award up to three indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts.
Is Russia’s Cosmos 2553 satellite a test for a future orbital nuclear weapon?
Breaking Defense was given exclusive space tracking information showing the unique path of the Russian system, one experts say is the reason for US government warnings about space-based nuclear weapons.
ITU rules meeting: Geopolitical ‘fireworks,’ DoD spectrum challenges
Disputes over spectrum use by mega-constellations in low Earth orbit, such as SpaceX's Starlink, also carry heavy political baggage at the 2023 World Radio Conference that starts tomorrow in Dubai.
As DoD readies new commercial space strategies, industry frets funding gap
When it comes to leveraging commercial space tech, one analyst said, "The old adage holds — show me your budget and I’ll show you your priorities."