Author: Defenceline Webdesk

WASHINGTON — In an unprecedented move, the Defense Department has agreed to give SpaceX exclusive access to the government’s most classified space tracking data, according to a dozen government and industry sources. One of the sources, a Space Force official, told Breaking Defense a “contractual agreement” has been signed between SpaceX and the Space Force’s Joint Commercial Operations Cell (JCO), trading company access to US Space Command’s (SPACECOM) most detailed version of its High Accuracy Catalog (HAC) of on-orbit objects in exchange for SpaceX giving the JCO data from its Stargaze star-tracking cameras. It’s unclear when the arrangement began, but…

Rare earths entered the Trump-Xi summit before the two leaders even sat down. On September 21, two days before President Xi Jinping’s arrival in the United States, China’s Foreign Ministry faced a series of questions on whether Beijing had “fully resumed rare earth deliveries,” whether a “November 10 deadline or expanded restrictions on rare earth exports” could be extended, and whether rare earths controls involving Japan would feature in the Washington talks. The responses were deliberately cautious: Beijing reiterated its commitment to “keeping the global industrial and supply chains of critical minerals safe and stable,” but emphasized that dual-use exports…

The F-16 remains a frontline fighter for the US and a primary combat plane for many others. It can be overmatched, however, when it comes to electronic warfare. At AFA, Breaking Defense spoke with Northrop Grumman‘s Shalini Gupta about EW modernization that keeps the F-16 relevant and survivable. Source link

GEK800 tested at Kratos X-58 test facility. Credit: Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions and GE Aerospace have reached a significant development milestone with the first successful ignition of the GEK800 turbofan engine, intended for use in next-generation US cruise missiles. The engine, recently designated as the F143, underwent its initial hot-fire test at the X-58 test facility, marking the official launch of a new testing campaign and maintaining programme timelines, according to statements from both companies. Discover B2B Marketing That Performs Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading…

Breaking Defense is pleased to announce the hiring of Mikayla Easley in the role of assistant editor, an addition that will help support and advance the capacity of the world’s largest newsroom dedicated to defense. Well known and experienced in defense circles, the award-winning Mikayla comes to Breaking Defense after several years at Defense Scoop, where she reported on defense acquisition and emerging technologies, with a focus on the Air and Space Forces. She previously worked at National Defense Magazine reporting on the defense industry for several years.  Mikayla received a masters in journalism from the prestigious University of Missouri…

Image of the UK SKYNET 5D satellite (centre) on orbit. Also pictured are UAE satellite YAHSAT 1A (right) and Russian satellite Express AM-6 (left). Credit: UK MoD/Crown copyright UK announces RAF No. III Space Effects Squadron to protect/counter threats to satellites Capabilities remain vague beyond non-kinetic effects and electronic warfare Unit expected to be small; basing and IOC timelines not disclosed The UK’s newly announced No. III Space Effects Squadron will be equipped with capabilities that can’t be disclosed, to a timeframe that will not be revealed, and be based at a location too secretive to unveil. Revealed by the…

BELFAST — UK Chief of the Air Staff announced today that Britain will stand up a new space squadron focused on countering enemy threats and defending local “interests.” “No. 3 SES [Space Effects Squadron] will disrupt, degrade and deny hostile activity,” said Harv Smyth, as he announced the move at the UK Space Power Conference in London. Run by “specialist personnel” the squadron will take on offensive and defensive space missions, he added. “No one wants a war in space. We are positioned to deter this,” said Smyth, but he warned that the UK is witnessing “more and more irresponsible…

Leidos’ ISR platform strengthens the Army’s intelligence collection capabilities. Credit: Leidos. Leidos has been awarded a contract extension by the US Army to continue operating the Airborne Reconnaissance and Targeting Exploitation Multi-Mission Intelligence System (ARTEMIS) across Europe. The deal, valued at up to $127m, is scheduled to run through summer 2027, with an option for two additional years. Discover B2B Marketing That Performs Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms. Find out more Under the agreement, Leidos will sustain its delivery of rapidly deployable airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, primarily…

WASHINGTON — The Air and Space Forces over the past year have been picking up the pace of their multi-tiered research initiative aimed at developing an unusual idea seemingly straight from science fiction: the capability to rapidly deliver cargo into global hot zones by launching it through space. But while the Pentagon was originally looking primarily at using large, reusable rockets for the delivery of goods, the military is now shifting its attention towards smaller reentry capsules. The bi-service effort to leverage commercial capabilities for point-to-point delivery via space is somewhat confusing because it encompasses different programs with money in…

BAE Systems’ new Infantry Fighting Vehicle concepts. Credit: BAE Systems. BAE Systems has handed over two prototype Infantry Fighting Vehicles to the US Army, aiming to speed up delivery of advanced ground combat solutions as part of the Transformation in Contact (TiC) 2.0 initiative. The new vehicles, developed at a cost of $17m from BAE Systems’ own research and development budget, use the chassis of the Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) as their foundation, according to the company. Discover B2B Marketing That Performs Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms. Find out more…