The US Space Force

Sferrin said:
Frankly I'm surprised there isn't already a planned Starship launch site out there. If they ever want to hit the rates they're talking about, they're going to need sites that look like this, with Starship pads by the scores.

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There’s never going to be a 1.5 trillion budget and Starship has yet to enter service. I do believe the USSF is looking into creating a pad already for it, but I think it will be a long time before it needs more than a pad or two. F9 capacity is practically inexhaustible and once Starship takes over the Starlink job, a vast amount of capacity becomes available.
 

Space Force envisions rolling awards for new RG-XX neighborhood watch satellites​

breakingdefense.com

Space Force envisions rolling awards for new RG-XX neighborhood watch satellites - Breaking Defense

Space Systems Command intends to issue task orders to qualified vendors annually based on funding and operational needs, said Col. Byron McClain, SSC program executive officer for Space Combat Power.
breakingdefense.com breakingdefense.com
RG-XX is being designed as the successor to the Space Force’s Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) constellation originally comprised of six satellites in geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) some 36,000 kilometers in altitude.
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And while RG-XX sats are expected to be more manueverable than GSSAP birds and will be the first Space Force satellites capable of refueling in orbit, McClain said it is not completely clear whether the RG-XX satellites alone will be all that is needed to replace the venerable GSSAP birds, the first of which launched in 2014.
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Space Force’s Newest Reconnaissance Satellites Could Come Online by 2030​

www.airandspaceforces.com

New Space Force Reconnaissance Satellites Could Be Online by 2030

The Space Force plans to issue the first contracts for its new fleet of reconnaissance satellites as soon as next month.
www.airandspaceforces.com www.airandspaceforces.com
 
rdw.com

Redwire Selected for Missile Defense Agency’s $151 Billion Multi-Vendor SHIELD IDIQ to Support Homeland Defense

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (January 27, 2026) – Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW), a global leader in space and defense technology solutions today announced it was awarded a contract for the Missile Defense…
rdw.com rdw.com

Redwire Corporation[...] announced it was awarded a contract for the Missile Defense Agency Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with a ceiling of $151B. This contract encompasses a broad range of work areas that allows for the rapid delivery of innovative capabilities to the warfighter with increased speed and agility.

[...] Peter Cannito, Chairman and CEO of Redwire [said] “We are excited to continue advancing capabilities that help protect the homeland and support mission partners across the Department of War.”

This is a multi-award contract. There is no guaranteed revenue with the award of the SHIELD IDIQ contract.
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The launch of GPS III seems rather anemic, but the IIIF launch schedule seems more ambitious at ~2/year.
 
https://twitter.com/x/status/2018283586512699882
View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/2018283586512699882?s=20

https://twitter.com/x/status/2018286054646612004
View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/2018286054646612004?s=20

Space Force stands up SPACEFOR-NORTH for homeland mission​

www.spacewar.com

Space Force stands up SPACEFOR-NORTH for homeland mission

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 02, 2026 - The U.S. Space Force has activated U.S. Space Forces Northern as its newest component field command, positioning space capabilities more directly in support of the homeland defense mission at Peters
www.spacewar.com
For U.S. Northern Command specifically, SPACEFOR-NORTH will concentrate on space contributions to homeland defense, including enhanced domain awareness, missile warning and tracking, positioning, navigation and timing services, satellite communications, and capabilities for orbital and electromagnetic warfare.
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Congress shifts Space Force funding, adds $500M for GPS IIIF​

Congress shifts Space Force funding, adds $500M for GPS IIIF | InsideDefense.com

Congress criticized the Space Force for failing to include GPS III Follow-on procurement funding in its budget request and added $528 million for the contractually obligated purchase in the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill that passed in the House today.
insidedefense.com insidedefense.com

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Space Force buys second Otter spacecraft to power satellites on orbit​

breakingdefense.com

Space Force buys second Otter spacecraft to power satellites on orbit

The Otter can keep a satellite fixed at one point on orbit or scoot it elsewhere, offering operators more flexibility.
breakingdefense.com breakingdefense.com

Momentus and NASA plan joint mission to test orbital servicing technologies​

www.spacedaily.com

Momentus and NASA plan joint mission to test orbital servicing technologies

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 10, 2026 - Momentus Inc. has entered into a Space Act Agreement with NASA for a new low Earth orbit mission that will test technologies for in-orbit servicing, assembly, and autonomous operations. The collabor
www.spacedaily.com

Teledyne infrared sensors selected for SDA Tranche 3 tracking layer​

www.spacewar.com

Teledyne infrared sensors selected for SDA Tranche 3 tracking layer

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 10, 2026 - Teledyne Technologies has begun production of advanced infrared focal plane modules for the Space Development Agency's Tracking Layer Tranche 3 program, reinforcing the role of commercial suppliers
www.spacewar.com
 

MDA Space forms 49North to expand Canadian defence capabilities​

www.spacewar.com

MDA Space forms 49North to expand Canadian defence capabilities

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 23, 2026 - MDA Space has created a new Canadian defence subsidiary called 49North to focus on secure, multi-domain C4ISR and mission-critical capabilities that support national defence priorities outside the s
www.spacewar.com
 

Space Force in Final Test Phase for Second GBOSS Radar Upgrade​

www.airandspaceforces.com

Space Force in Final Test Phase for Second GBOSS Radar Upgrade

The Space Force is close to transitioning a radar upgrade to operational users, according to the head of Combat Forces Command.
www.airandspaceforces.com www.airandspaceforces.com

China’s Growing Armada Of Spy Satellites Is Pushing Space Force To Go On The Offensive​

www.twz.com

China's Growing Armada Of Spy Satellites Is Pushing Space Force To Go On The Offensive

"You can't run away from a bully forever. Sometimes you got to turn around and punch," Space Force Combat Forces boss says.
www.twz.com www.twz.com
U.S. military officials have been stressing that space is now a warfighting domain where active conflict could occur for years now. This, in turn, has also led to increasingly open discussions about new anti-satellite capabilities.
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“But protecting and defending satellites can’t simply be done by protect and defend. You can’t run away from a bully forever. Sometimes you got to turn around and punch,” Gagnon continued. “So protect and defend, although necessary is insufficient to deliver space control. We also need, as part of our joint force, the ability to attack.”
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Orbital Warfare Unit Gets Live Satellite to Practice Maneuvers​

www.airandspaceforces.com

Orbital Warfare Unit Gets Live Satellite to Practice Maneuvers

The Space Force's orbital warfare unit, Mission Delta 9, can now test precision maneuvers on a live satellite
www.airandspaceforces.com www.airandspaceforces.com

Space Force signals ambitious reset for missile defense radars​

Space Force signals ambitious reset for missile defense radars | InsideDefense.com

The Space Force is laying the groundwork for a more sweeping overhaul of its missile-warning radars than previously planned, moving beyond back-end digital upgrades toward full digitization of entire radar systems across the fleet.
insidedefense.com insidedefense.com
 
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How US military space operators are likely aiding the fight in Iran​

breakingdefense.com

How US military space operators are likely aiding the fight in Iran - Breaking Defense

While senior officials have offered praise with few details, experts told Breaking Defense space ops likely include jamming or spoofing satellite communications.
breakingdefense.com breakingdefense.com

Space Force Components Building Up Units to ‘Surge’ Forward​

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Space Force Components Building Up Units to ‘Surge’ Forward

Space Force component commands will need to grow so that when Guardians are deployed, regular operations aren’t disrupted, a general said.
www.airandspaceforces.com www.airandspaceforces.com
 
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Space Force ‘Serious’ About Planning for Cislunar Operations​

www.airandspaceforces.com

Space Force ‘Serious’ About Planning for Cislunar Operations

The Space Force is developing a plan to increase its focus on cislunar operations, and will soon name leaders and tech "integration points."
www.airandspaceforces.com www.airandspaceforces.com

What is the Pentagon’s ‘Space Data Network,’ and why does it matter for Golden Dome?​

breakingdefense.com

What is the Pentagon’s ‘Space Data Network,’ and why does it matter for Golden Dome? - Breaking Defense

The SDN will provide the communications pathways for integrating and moving data from missile warning/tracking sensors to interceptors in near-real time under the Golden Dome construct.
breakingdefense.com breakingdefense.com
 
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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force is deploying dedicated cybersecurity teams at its primary launch sites, reflecting rising concern that adversaries could disrupt rocket launches through digital means rather than physical interference.

Two units known as Defensive Cyber Operations Squadrons will monitor activity during launch operations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Vandenberg Space Force Base, according to the Space Systems Command. The command, which oversees U.S. military launch ranges, said March 23 that the teams are tasked with detecting and countering attempts to interfere with launches via cyber attack.

The move formalizes a role that has become more prominent as launch infrastructure has grown increasingly reliant on software and interconnected systems. Modern ranges tie together radar, telemetry antennas, flight termination systems, fueling controls and command networks — creating multiple points where a disruption could delay or halt a mission.
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SSC Forms Defensive Cyber Squadrons For Launch Ranges

The U.S. Space Force has stood up two cyber defense squadrons focused on protecting the nation’s launch ranges from real-time attacks, the service’s Space Systems Command (SSC) announced March 23.

The 630 Cyberspace Squadron (CYS) was activated on March 10 under Space Launch Delta 30 at Vandenberg SFB, California. The 645 CYS sits under Space Launch Delta 45 at Patrick SFB, Florida, and was reassigned last September away from the service’s defense space operations unit, Space Delta 6.
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Space Force planning for AI 'aggressors' for OTTI​

Space Force planning for AI 'aggressors' for OTTI | InsideDefense.com

The Space Force is planning to use artificial intelligence in its Operational Test and Training Infrastructure to simulate adversary capabilities and maneuvers in space warfighting, the program's executive officer said yesterday.
insidedefense.com insidedefense.com
 
FY27 PB requests $19B for Space Force procurement, up from $4B in FY26. This includes:
  • $7B for space-based AMTI
  • $459M for counter-space systems
  • $4.1B for space launch, up from $1.3B in FY26
  • $1.5B for proliferated low-earth orbit SATCOM
RDT&E requested increases to $40B in FY27 from $20B in FY26.
 
Everyone keeps treating the budget request like it is a relatively sure thing, when it does not have a prayer of being approved.
 

BAE Unveils Highly Maneuverable, Refuelable Satellite, Eyes 2027 Delivery​

www.airandspaceforces.com

BAE Unveils Maneuverable, Refuelable Satellite for 2027 Delivery

BAE Systems unveiled a new high-thrust, maneuverable, refuelable satellite designed to support dynamic space operations.
www.airandspaceforces.com www.airandspaceforces.com

Space Force Urges Industry to Invest in Satellite Production Capacity​

www.airandspaceforces.com

Space Force Urges Industry to Invest in Satellite Production

The Space Force is preparing for a larger procurement budget in fiscal 2027 and asking companies to invest in satellite production capacity.
www.airandspaceforces.com www.airandspaceforces.com
 

Space Force 2040: 30,000 satellites, ‘thousands’ more Guardians​

breakingdefense.com

Space Force 2040: 30,000 satellites, 'thousands' more Guardians - Breaking Defense

The Space Force's projections of its needs for orbital warfare and electronic warfare are only included in the classified version of the new Objective Force plan, but Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman confirmed that the service wants new kit for orbital warfare.
breakingdefense.com breakingdefense.com
 

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