Military

Satellite billed as the ‘future GPS’ begins key tests
L3Harris announced Jan. 26 it delivered the Navigation Technology Satellite-3 to the U.S. Air Force

L3Harris ‘optimistic’ Aerojet Rocketdyne acquisition will close in 2023
Christopher Kubasik, CEO of L3Harris Technologies, said Jan. 27 regulators continue to review the company’s proposed $4.7 billion acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne and expects the merger to close in 2023.

U.S. sanctions Chinese satellite firm for allegedly supplying SAR imagery to Russia’s Wagner Group
The U.S. has sanctioned a Chinese small satellite manufacturer for allegedly supplying Russia's Wagner Group with radar satellite imagery of Ukraine to support its combat operations

Senators press Defense Secretary Austin to keep Space Command in Colorado
Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper met with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Jan. 26 and urged him to reverse the Air Force’s decision to relocate U.S. Space Command headquarters

Supporting military operations on Earth to remain U.S. Space Force’s top priority
Top acquisition executive Frank Calvelli said the Space Force must focus on advancing satellites systems for military operations on Earth

Lamborn named chair of House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee
Rep. Doug Lamborn, a Republican representing Colorado Springs, was named chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s strategic forces subcommittee.

Space Command: U.S. satellites ‘constrained’ by lack of mobility
Lt. Gen. Shaw said a key concern is that U.S. surveillance satellites that monitor potentially hostile activities are at disadvantage because of their limited maneuverability

Space Force not buying large satellites for the foreseeable future
The era of massive satellites needs to be in the rear view mirror for the Department of Defense, the head of military space acquisitions Frank Calvelli said Jan. 24.

NASA and DARPA to partner on nuclear thermal propulsion demonstration
NASA and DARPA will cooperate on the development and flight demonstration of a nuclear propulsion system with applications for both national security and space exploration.

Space Development Agency renames constellation to reflect focus on U.S. warfighter
The Space Development Agency is renaming its planned network of military satellites “Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture."

Lockheed Martin eyes international customers for GPS augmentation systems
Lockheed Martin developed a satellite-based augmentation system that leverages the L1C signal that is interoperable with both GPS and Galileo

U.S. Space Force chief calls for greater collaboration with allies
Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations of the U.S. Space Force, in a memo outlining his priorities said the service should pursue stronger partnerships with allies.

HawkEye 360 satellites to provide data for U.S. Space Force threat-detection system
Slingshot Aerospace is developing a system for the U.S. Space Force that will use data from HawkEye 360’s satellites to identify potential threats to GPS signals

With Starshield, SpaceX readies for battle
SpaceX is answering the Pentagon’s call for more commercial allies with Starshield, a business that will leverage its manufacturing might to provide custom- built spacecraft, sensors, and secure communications services.

Space Force procurement chief looking for big wins in 2023
Frank Calvelli said his push for speed and agility in procurement programs is starting to resonate