Military Space News, Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense
December 23, 2025
SPACEWAR
SDA expands Tracking Layer satellite awards and related missile defense contracts



Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 19, 2025
The Space Development Agency has selected four contractor teams to build and operate 72 Tracking Layer satellites for Tranche 3 of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture in low Earth orbit, under agreements valued at approximately 3.5 billion dollars. The awards, issued under Other Transaction Authority, go to Lockheed Martin of Sunnyvale California, Rocket Lab USA of Long Beach California, Northrop Grumman of Redondo Beach California and L3Harris Technologies of Fort Wayne Indiana. Each t ... read more

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SPACEWAR
Space Systems Command activates System Delta 80 for assured space access
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 17, 2025
U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command has activated System Delta 80 to manage launch solutions, on-orbit servicing, and range systems in support of the Assured Access to Space Program Executive Off ... more
SPACEWAR
Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions to provide SAR reconnaissance data to German military
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Dec 19, 2025
Rheinmetall and ICEYE have received a major contract from the German Armed Forces for space-based reconnaissance, with the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Servi ... more
UAV NEWS
RTX radar selected to support autonomous X 62A fighter testing
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 19, 2025
Raytheon has received a U.S. Air Force contract to integrate its PhantomStrike radar on the autonomous X-62A Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft, or VISTA, a modified F-16D Block 30 test air ... more
SPACEWAR
Muon Space secures Direct to Phase II award for SDA missile warning and tracking mission
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 22, 2025
Muon Space has secured a Direct to Phase II award to support the Space Development Agency's missile warning and tracking mission, advancing the company's role in developing space based sensing capab ... more
OIL AND GAS
US oil blockade of Venezuela: what we know
Washington, United States (AFP) Dec 17, 2025
US forces in the Caribbean - where Donald Trump has deployed a massive flotilla of warships - have been tasked by the president with blockading "sanctioned oil vessels" going to and from Venezuela. ... more
SPACEWAR
MDA Space partners with Canada defence department and Telesat to deliver next generation military satcom
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 22, 2025
MDA Space has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Canadian Department of National Defence and satellite operator Telesat to deliver advanced military satellite communications capabilit ... more
EARTH OBSERVATION
Maintaining the Gold Standard: The Future of Landsat Calibration and Validation
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Dec 17, 2025
The Landsat Calibration and Validation (Cal/Val) group helps uphold Landsat's reputation as the gold standard of satellite imagery. They ensure that the Operational Land Imager (OLI) and the Thermal ... more
SPACE TRAVEL
Billionaire Trump nominee confirmed to lead NASA amid Moon race
Washington, United States (AFP) Dec 17, 2025
The US Senate on Wednesday approved President Donald Trump's re-nomination of billionaire Jared Isaacman to head NASA, following months of backtracking and uncertainty over the space agency's future. ... more

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MILPLEX
'Not our enemy': Rush to rearm sparks backlash in east Germany
Lubben, Germany (AFP) Dec 19, 2025
As Germany faces a hostile Russia, a defence firm plans to open a munitions plant in the ex-communist east - but many locals are sympathetic towards Moscow and up in arms about the project. ... more
SPACE TRAVEL
Hydrogen peroxide thruster qualifies for ESA launcher attitude control
Paris, France (SPX) Dec 19, 2025
Many launchers and satellites rely on separate propulsion systems for major orbital maneuvers and for attitude control, with the latter provided by compact reaction control thrusters that steer and ... more
TECH SPACE
Engineered interlayers boost satellite insulation and flexible electronics
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Dec 17, 2025
Researchers at Empa are refining the multilayer insulation foils that wrap many satellites and space probes, aiming to improve their mechanical robustness while maintaining thermal protection. These ... more
AFRICA NEWS
Benin president says bulk of military not behind failed coup
Cotonou, Benin (AFP) Dec 18, 2025
Benin President Patrice Talon said Thursday that the bulk of the army did not back a recent foiled coup bid whose leaders recruited young trainee soldiers. ... more
SPACEWAR
Anysignal raises 24 million Series A to advance autonomous RF sensing for space and national security
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 22, 2025
Anysignal has raised 24 million dollars in a Series A financing round to expand development of autonomous radio frequency sensing technology aimed at mission critical space and national security app ... more
UAV NEWS
DLR completes ground roll tests of HAP alpha uncrewed high altitude solar aircraft
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Dec 22, 2025
The German Aerospace Center has successfully completed ground roll tests of HAP alpha, an uncrewed high altitude solar powered aircraft designed to operate in the lower stratosphere for extended per ... more
TECHNOLOGY NEWS


MILTECH
Cyviz awarded two classified NATO defense contracts for mission critical visualization systems
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Dec 22, 2025
Cyviz, a provider of immersive visualization systems and collaborative mission operations platforms, has been awarded two classified defense contracts by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization aimed ... more
CHIP TECH
China's MetaX soars 755% on debut on hopes for domestic chipmakers
Shanghai (AFP) Dec 17, 2025
Shares in China's MetaX, which makes high-end chips used to power AI systems, rocketed more than 750 percent on its debut in Shanghai on Wednesday, fuelled by hopes of the country's potential to challenge US powerhouse Nvidia. ... more
PILLAGING PIRATES
US deploys troops to Ecuador for anti-drugs operation
Quito (AFP) Dec 17, 2025
The United States announced Wednesday a temporary deployment of Air Force personnel to Ecuador to combat drug trafficking in one of Latin America's biggest narcotics smuggling hubs. ... more
SUPERPOWERS
Defence of Europe's eastern flank an 'immediate' priority: eight EU leaders
Helsinki (AFP) Dec 16, 2025
Defending Europe's eastern flank should be an "immediate" priority for the European Union in the face of the threat posed by Russia, eight EU leaders meeting in Helsinki said Tuesday. ... more
SPACEWAR
Rocket Lab advances US Space Force mission with early STP S30 launch
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 18, 2025
Rocket Lab Corporation has successfully launched the STP-S30 mission for the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command, placing four DiskSat spacecraft into low Earth orbit and completing the task fi ... more
SUPERPOWERS
Trump signs $900 bn defense policy bill into law as Admin plans major DoD changes
Washington, United States (AFP) Dec 19, 2025
President Donald Trump signed a sweeping defense policy bill into law Thursday that signaled strong bipartisan support for Europe and defied the US leader's increasingly hostile posture toward NATO and America's closest allies. ... more
SUPERPOWERS
PM Takaichi says Japan 'always open' to dialogue with China
Tokyo (AFP) Dec 17, 2025
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Wednesday she is "always open" to dialogue with China despite a diplomatic row between Tokyo and Beijing over comments she made about Taiwan. ... more
UAV NEWS
Germany opens new national drone defence centre
Berlin (AFP) Dec 17, 2025
Germany opened a new national drone defence centre on Wednesday to enable better coordination between central and state governments, after a string of suspicious drone sightings in recent months. ... more
MILPLEX
German MPs approve 50 bn euros in military purchases
Berlin (AFP) Dec 17, 2025
German lawmakers Wednesday approved about 50 billion euros ($59 billion) in military purchases, as Berlin accelerates defence spending in the face of a hostile Russia and signs of weakening security commitments from Washington. ... more
TAIWAN NEWS
US approves $11 billion in arms sales to Taiwan: Taipei
Taipei (AFP) Dec 18, 2025
The United States approved $11 billion-worth of arms to Taiwan, Taipei said Thursday, announcing one of the largest weapons packages for the island and prompting an angry backlash from China. ... more
AEROSPACE
German MP urges split with France on fighter jet project
Berlin (AFP) Dec 16, 2025
A prominent German lawmaker Tuesday called for a split with France in a major next-generation fighter aircraft project, as a high-stakes decision looms on the European programme's future. ... more
SUPERPOWERS
Pentagon prepares major military reorganization plan: report
Washington, United States (AFP) Dec 16, 2025
US officials are working on a plan for a reorganization of the military requested by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth that would reduce four-star generals and consolidate some international command centers, the Washington Post reported on Monday. ... more
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NUKEWARS
Mossad chief says Israel must 'ensure' Iran won't restart nuclear programme
Jerusalem (AFP) Dec 16, 2025
The head of Israel's Mossad intelligence service said on Tuesday that the country must "ensure" Iran doesn't restart its nuclear programme, six months after it bombed Tehran's atomic facilities during a 12-day war. ... more
NUKEWARS
Russian nuclear-capable missile Oreshnik deployed in Belarus
Moscow (AFP) Dec 18, 2025
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday that a newly developed Russian hypersonic, nuclear-capable missile known as the "Oreshnik" had been deployed in Belarus. ... more
SUPERPOWERS
Ukraine diplomat in Beijing for talks; Russian attacks injure scores in southern Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) Dec 18, 2025
A senior Ukrainian diplomat announced on Thursday he had arrived in Beijing, a close ally of Russia, where he was expected to hold talks with Chinese officials. ... more
DEMOCRACY
Daughter warns China not to make Jimmy Lai a 'martyr'
Washington, United States (AFP) Dec 15, 2025
The daughter of Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who was convicted on Monday, warned China her father would be a "martyr" if he dies in prison, as she voiced alarm again for his health. ... more
TERROR WARS
Deadly attack on US troops exposes Syrian security gaps: analysts
Beirut, Lebanon (AFP) Dec 18, 2025
A deadly attack on US troops by a member of Syria's security forces has exposed flaws in the new authorities' recruitment drive, which appears poorly designed to filter out extremists, analysts said. ... more
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