military space programs

The US Air Force secretary has publicly acknowledged that the United States possesses weapons in space, a rare official confirmation of the country's off-Earth military capabilities. The statement is drawing attention for how directly it breaks from usual ambiguity around space-based weapons programs.

Lockheed Martin, the US defense contractor, is drawing attention for its work combining artificial intelligence with space systems. The company is developing AI-enabled defense technologies alongside its satellite and space programs, positioning itself for growing military demand in both areas. Observers are weighing what these investments mean for the company's future role in US national security and the defense industry's broader technology shift.

South Korea's Ministry of National Defense and the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) have agreed to use domestically developed launch vehicles to put military satellites into orbit. The move ties national security space programs to the country's homegrown rocket capability, reducing reliance on foreign launch providers and supporting the domestic space industry.

The US military has ended a long-running program used to detect nuclear missile launches, according to Ars Technica. The move raises questions about how the US will monitor ballistic missile launches in the future and what it means for early-warning capabilities. The decision is drawing attention among defense and space observers, who are weighing the security implications of retiring a system focused on spotting nuclear attacks.

The U.S. Space Force has issued a solicitation for commercial proposals to restructure the Satellite Communications and Range (SCAR) ground antenna network. The move signals a shift toward greater reliance on private industry for operating and maintaining the satellite control and tracking ground infrastructure that supports military space operations, opening the program to competition from commercial providers rather than a single traditional contractor.

The Pentagon is moving forward with constellations of satellites designed to track targets such as missiles from orbit. The programs, part of the US military's push for proliferated low-Earth-orbit sensing, are taking concrete shape as the Department of Defense funds and layers multiple tracking constellations to improve detection and continuous tracking of hypersonic and ballistic threats.

German defence contractor Rheinmetall has launched a military space program, and its first satellite is already in orbit. The move marks an expansion of the company beyond land systems into space-based defence capabilities, reflecting a broader push by European arms makers into military space technology amid rising security concerns in Europe.

The US Space Force has retired its Cold War-era Defense Support Program missile-warning constellation, concluding its service with a final maneuver exercise. The satellites, which for decades provided early warning of missile launches, are being replaced by more modern systems. The retirement marks the end of one of the oldest military space programs still in operation.

Overview Energy has been awarded a contract under the Department of War's OECIF program to develop a homing beacon technology for space-based solar energy. The announcement, made via press release, links the company's space solar power ambitions to military innovation funding. Few further details about the contract's size, timeline, or technical scope were disclosed, and reactions to the award remain limited so far.