Exclusive
Defense Systems
Cape Canaveral is building up its counter-drone defenses, Space Force says
The Florida facility is key to the Pentagon’s plans to launch a thousand rockets a year.
Threats
Space Force braces for stalled progress amid lack of full funding
Fiscal 2027 program starts are already on hold until December.
Threats
The Pentagon must prepare for battles around the moon: Joint Chiefs chair
Days after orbital weapons were revealed, Gen. Dan Caine ups the scope of the military’s desired reach.
Threats
‘It was time’ to admit US has weapons in orbit, Space Force’s new leader says
Russian and Chinese advances led to the revelation, Gen. Douglas Schiess says at AFA.
Defense Systems
US military has ‘on-orbit’ space weapons, Air Force Secretary reveals
Experts said the acknowledgment may lead to overt action by China, Russia.
Policy
Top Air and Space Force leaders will gather amid unresolved Iran war, budget uncertainty
The Joint Chiefs chairman, Space Force’s new leader, and the NASA administrator are all scheduled to speak at next week’s Air and Space Force Association conference.
Threats
The US may lack the engineers to rebuild space assets in a future war: RAND
Industry is already short of skilled engineering personnel.
Policy
Here’s what Trump’s new ‘Space Academy’ could mean for the US military
A new source for commissioned officers—but is it needed?
Science & Tech
US military bought commercial satellite images of alleged narco airstrips, Chinese naval fleet
The Space Force can improve how it embraces commercial intel, a new GAO report says.
Exclusive
Business
New contract aims to keep Space Force’s multi-billion-dollar projects on budget
Integrate was just for the service’s complicated launch programs. Now, it’s expanding.
Exclusive
Defense Systems
Golden Dome Caucus chair says building support, funding for missile shield is a ‘tough slog’
Rep. Jeff Crank, R-Colo., told Defense One that funding the war in Iran threatens the missile-defense project.
Policy
Intel ops are underway at Space Command’s nascent Alabama HQ
Alabama landed SPACECOM after a years-long political fight. Now it’s getting off the ground.
Defense Systems
Officials hedge SpaceX aircraft-tracking satellite bet with three smaller company contracts
Rocket Labs, STR, and one mystery company are the latest space-based AMTI awardees.
Science & Tech
Can an Alaskan spaceport ease Pentagon’s launch bottleneck?
Rocket Lab says its suborbital launches at Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska could lead to national-security ones.
Threats
China justifies Space Force’s budget, nominee tells lawmakers in smooth confirmation hearing
Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess, who is likely to be confirmed, would be the young service's third leader.
Threats
Space Force can’t figure out what personnel it needs for its missions, GAO says
As service leaders seek more money and headcount, thousands of “required” jobs went unfilled in 2025, watchdog agency found.
Policy
Space Force faces budget uncertainty as leader plans exit next month
Gen. Chance Saltzman sets his retirement as the service’s top budget priorities face cuts, scrutiny.
Policy
Space Development Agency resumes key satellite launches after delays, watchdog criticisms
Meanwhile, Congress may dissolve SDA into the Space Force.
Policy
International air and space leaders will push unity at conference after prickly NATO summit
Military brass to debate space warfare, the U.K.’s F-35s, and the country's new spending plan.
Business