The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking input from the space industry on how to rapidly restore critical space capabilities if satellites are disabled or destroyed during a conflict. DARPA released a request for information titled "Rapid Reconstitution of Space Capabilities" on June 12, with responses due by July 8. The agency aims to reestablish critical services on timelines measured in hours to weeks, reflecting Pentagon concerns that space is becoming an increasingly contested domain.

Adam Bry, CEO of Skydio, discussed the US autonomous drone market, competition with China, and surveillance concerns in an interview. Skydio, the leading US drone maker, focuses on the enterprise market, serving industries such as public safety, militaries, and utility companies. The company's products are an alternative to cheap consumer drones from China, which were banned by the Trump administration. Bry also touched on the use of AI in drones, manufacturing complex products in the US, and [...]

The U.S. Space Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $514 million contract to build two additional GPS 3F satellites, bringing the total number of GPS 3F spacecraft under contract to 14. The GPS 3F satellites are designed to improve resilience against jamming and other electronic threats, featuring upgrades such as Regional Military Protection and a fully digital navigation payload. The contract was issued under a 2018 agreement that allows the Space Force to purchase up to 22 [...]

Europe has begun testing Arcadia, a European-developed artificial intelligence command-and-control platform, during a major NATO interoperability exercise in Poland. Developed by a consortium of French technology and defence companies, Arcadia is positioned as Europe's answer to Palantir's Maven AI-enabled battlefield platform. The system aims to provide greater control over critical digital infrastructure, military data, and next-generation defence technologies, addressing growing concerns about dependence on non-European defence technologies. Arcadia's debut marks a significant operational test, processing vast volumes [...]

The US production of solid rocket motors is increasing, but not quickly enough to meet the Pentagon's demands for its missile-defense program. A report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies states that solid rocket motors remain a bottleneck in the US missile industrial base. The Pentagon's 2027 budget includes over $73 billion for missile programs, with expected deliveries of over 2,100 air and missile defense interceptors. However, this is below the department's production goals of [...]

The U.S. military is exploring the concept of "orbital warehouses" to store fuel and other materials in space, enabling easy pickup by future spacecraft on satellite servicing missions. This initiative aims to accelerate operational logistics and help the U.S. Space Force keep its satellites active and respond to threats in a timely manner. The Space Systems Command and SpaceWERX are leading the challenge, which seeks fundable ideas for orbital warehouses and transfer vehicles that can haul supplies [...]

Executives in the aerospace and defense sectors are increasingly viewing artificial intelligence as a necessary tool to help meet production demands, rather than a replacement for workers. The industry is facing a talent shortage, with companies struggling to hire enough trained engineers, software developers, and manufacturing staff. To address this, companies are investing in agentic AI systems that can assist with engineering, testing, supply-chain management, and manufacturing workflows, aiming to compress development timelines and meet the Pentagon's [...]