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Russia and China have fielded counterspace capabilities that threaten U.S. access to satellites used for military operations and civilian services, Space Systems Command said. The command identified China as the leading long-term competitor and Russia as the more immediate threat.

U.S. Space Force says China and Russia are fielding counterspace weapons that threaten satellites vital to military operations

Space/C4ISR

U.S. Space Force says China and Russia are fielding counterspace weapons that threaten satellites vital to military operations

Russia and China have fielded counterspace capabilities that threaten U.S. access to satellites used for military operations and civilian services, Space Systems Command said.

CHAOS Industries has unveiled VESPID, a family of autonomous counter-drone interceptors that it plans to manufacture at an initial rate of 12,000 a year. The Los Angeles-based company says the design can cut costs by up to 90% compared with conventional solid-rocket-motor and turbojet interceptors.

CHAOS Industries unveils VESPID counter-drone interceptors with 10-kilometer range and annual production target of 12,000 units

An F-22 Raptor pilot directed an Anduril YFQ-44A Fury through maneuvers and simulated combat tasks during an airborne control demonstration earlier this month. The test examined how a fighter pilot can issue tactical instructions to an uncrewed aircraft whose onboard software executes them.

U.S. Air Force says F-22 pilot directed Anduril YFQ-44A Fury through flight maneuvers and simulated combat tasks in airborne test

KNDS and RITEK have opened a factory in Levanger, Norway, that will build 37 of the Norwegian Army’s 54 Leopard 2A8NO main battle tanks. Production is scheduled to begin in autumn 2026 at a rate of up to 36 tanks a year.

KNDS and RITEK open new Leopard 2A8 tank factory in Norway to manufacture 37 main battle tanks for the Norwegian Army

Spain, Germany and Belgium have begun a new phase of research into automated aerial refuelling, with an estimated value of €8 million. The European Defence Agency project aims to develop the technology needed for one tanker to coordinate refuelling with several unmanned aircraft at once.

European Defence Agency begins new research phase with Spain, Germany and Belgium on automated mid-air refuelling of unmanned aircraft

Air and missile defence

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Romanian F-16 fighters shot down two Russian drones over the country’s territorial waters on 17 October after they entered Romanian airspace. The interceptions followed four brief drone incursions earlier in the week that did not result in engagements.

Romanian F-16 fighters shoot down two Russian drones after airspace violations over the Black Sea

Ukraine has exhausted its Patriot interceptor stocks, CNN reported on Thursday, citing a source familiar with the situation. The shortage has weakened its defenses against Russian ballistic missiles as Washington presses Kyiv to halt attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.

Ukraine’s Patriot interceptor stocks exhausted, leaving defenses exposed to Russian ballistic missile attacks, CNN reports

Northrop Grumman chief executive Kathy Warden said air defenses need a broader mix of affordable weapons to counter inexpensive drones and increasingly sophisticated aerial threats. She pointed to Raid Hunter, the company’s 50 mm gun-based air-defense system, as an example of its response.

Northrop Grumman CEO says air defense needs affordable weapons at scale, pointing to Raid Hunter development for drones and missiles

Raytheon has been selected to digitize U.S. Space Force radar sites that provide early warning of missile launches and track objects and activity in space. The company will deliver prototypes before the Ground-Based Radar Digitization program moves to wider deployment.

Raytheon to digitize U.S. Space Force early warning radars to improve missile detection, reliability and space monitoring capabilities

Top Stories

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $300 million sale of Tomahawk mission-planning systems and support to Australia. The October 8 approval covers equipment and services supporting the country’s expanding naval land-attack capability.

U.S. approves possible Tomahawk mission-planning sale to Australia to support long-range strikes from Hobart-class destroyers

L3Harris Technologies and the U.S. Army have completed the first flight demonstration of a Red Wolf air-launched effect from an MH-60 helicopter. The test opens a path to integrating the long-range strike system with Black Hawks and other H-60 variants.

L3Harris and U.S. Army test Red Wolf launch from MH-60 helicopter, paving way for long-range strike capability on Black Hawks

Russia rebuilt supply chains and upgraded factories to restart production of the Tu-160M strategic bomber, Tupolev chief executive Yuri Abrosimov said. He said the programme modernised 80% of the aircraft’s systems and equipment while retaining its external appearance.

Tupolev chief says Russia rebuilt Tu-160M bomber supply chains and modernised 80% of systems and equipment to resume production

UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting called for Britain and the United States to deepen industrial cooperation and increase weapons production. Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, he cited the F-35 and AUKUS as examples of partnerships that combine national investment with shared military requirements.

UK Secretary of Defence says F-35 and AUKUS partnerships show how Britain and U.S. can expand joint weapons production at scale

Advanced Navigation America is expanding manufacturing in Huntsville, Alabama, to supply navigation systems for defense and autonomous platforms operating without reliable GPS. A new Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Center of Excellence will bring research, development and production together at the site.

Advanced Navigation expands U.S. manufacturing in Huntsville to supply navigation systems for operations without reliable GPS

A production F-15EX Eagle II has dropped a live JDAM bomb for the first time during exercises near Nellis Air Force Base. The U.S. Department of War released photographs of the missions, which took place in August and early September 2026.

Operational F-15EX Eagle II fighters drop live JDAM bombs for first time during Weapons Instructor Course support at Nellis

Rheinmetall is investing around €20 million in its Albacete plant in Spain to add annual capacity for three million medium-calibre ammunition components and expand mortar production. The workforce is set to grow from around 210 to around 300.

Rheinmetall expands Albacete plant in Spain to make three million ammunition components a year and increase mortar production

The UK and Germany reviewed plans for a joint long-range strike capability during defence talks at Lancaster House in London. Ministers also discussed industrial cooperation and progress on shared military programmes, the UK Ministry of Defence said.

UK Ministry of Defence says London talks with Germany focus on long-range strike capability and defence industry cooperation

American Rheinmetall is positioning its Lynx XM30 as a purpose-built successor to the U.S. Army’s Bradley fighting vehicle. The company argues that converting the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle would impose limits on weapons, protection and future upgrades.

Raytheon says Multi-Mission Launcher on Lynx XM30 is designed to use existing U.S. Army weapons and accommodate future effectors

Millog has signed an agreement with Lockheed Martin to maintain, repair, overhaul and upgrade F-35 ground support equipment. The Finnish company will support Finland’s F-35 operations and be able to offer the same services to other partner and customer nations.

Millog signs agreement with Lockheed Martin to maintain F-35 ground support equipment for Finland and other partner nations

Saab and Swedish defence authorities have completed the first phase of a large uncrewed underwater vehicle project following successful sea trials. The demonstrator was developed, built and launched less than a year after the contract was awarded.

Saab and Swedish defence authorities complete sea trials of large underwater drone demonstrator within a year of contract award

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has finished flight testing SNC’s Electronic Support Measures system on the MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range. The upgrade is intended to help the U.S. Army detect and target hostile air defenses while keeping the uncrewed aircraft outside their weapon engagement zones.

General Atomics tests SNC sensor on Gray Eagle ER to detect hostile air defenses from outside their weapons range

Featured

BlackSky expands HEO contract with higher-resolution satellite imagery to inspect spacecraft and track other objects in orbit

BlackSky has signed a seven-figure annual contract extension with HEO, adding higher-resolution Gen-3 imagery to a service that monitors spacecraft and other objects in orbit

October 17, 2026

U.S. Army’s I Corps commander says Pacific combat readiness requires new command systems and training for dispersed operations

The U.S. Army’s I Corps is fielding new command-and-control systems to help coordinate forces separated by water across the Pacific

October 17, 2026

SpaceX launches classified USSF-481 mission for U.S. Space Force from California, marking Vandenberg’s 70th launch of 2026

SpaceX launched the U.S. Space Force’s classified USSF-481 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on October 15

October 17, 2026

New Zealand orders five MH-60R Seahawk helicopters from United States to replace Seasprite fleet, with deliveries from 2030

New Zealand has signed an agreement with the United States to buy five MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters to replace its Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite fleet

October 16, 2026

Lockheed Martin hands over first C-130J-30 to U.S. Navy for conversion into E-130J Phoenix II to support nuclear fleet communications

The U.S. Navy has received the first C-130J-30 Super Hercules for conversion into the E-130J Phoenix II, its next-generation airborne nuclear communications aircraft

October 16, 2026

BAE Systems to develop compact satellite communications terminals for U.S. Space Force to operate amid jamming and radiation

BAE Systems will design and demonstrate ultra-compact radio-frequency terminals for a space-based data layer under a U.S. Space Force contract

October 16, 2026

Boeing reports 94 military aircraft deliveries through September, including Apache helicopters, fighter jets and KC-46 tankers

Boeing delivered more than 90 military aircraft in the first nine months of the year, reaching 94 after handing over 30 in the third quarter

October 15, 2026

France and Netherlands begin nuclear deterrence dialogue, with Dutch government stressing that cooperation will complement NATO

France and the Netherlands have held the first meeting of a bilateral Nuclear Steering Group to discuss strengthening European nuclear and conventional deterrence

October 15, 2026

Industry spotlight

Air and missile defence

Combat-proven air defense: recent Patriot® contract awards signal surge in demand across Europe

European demand for proven air and missile defense systems is rising and Raytheon, an RTX business, is investing heavily to meet that need with higher production capacity.

September 23, 2026
Land

U.S. Army’s Bradley replacement race enters troop-testing phase with first XM30 prototypes from Rheinmetall and General Dynamics

September 17, 2026
Land

Lockheed Martin CEO says ATACMS production could move to Germany, opening Arkansas capacity for faster PrSM missile output

August 2, 2026
Corporate

L3Harris secures record $4.7 billion PAC-3 MSE propulsion deal from Lockheed Martin to expand U.S. interceptor production capacity

September 8, 2026
EM&E Group has developed a range of guided munition solutions aimed at increasing the capabilities of different types of munitions by incorporating advanced navigation and trajectory correction technologies. These include ALKON 122, ALKON 122L and EGM120, three solutions aimed at providing greater precision and new possibilities of use.
Land

EM&E Group drives indirect fire accuracy with ALKON 122, ALKON 122L, and EGM120

Lockheed Martin is pursuing a two-track expansion of its PAC-3 missile business, raising production of the PAC-3 MSE while developing a lower-cost interceptor for allied forces. The approach is intended to increase missile availability without relying on a single interceptor for every air and missile threat.
Air and missile defence

Lockheed Martin says lower-cost PAC-3 ACE and expanded PAC-3 MSE production will increase allied missile defense capacity across NATO

Air

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L3Harris Technologies and the U.S. Army have completed the first flight demonstration of a Red Wolf air-launched effect from an MH-60 helicopter. The test opens a path to integrating the long-range strike system with Black Hawks and other H-60 variants.

L3Harris and U.S. Army test Red Wolf launch from MH-60 helicopter, paving way for long-range strike capability on Black Hawks

October 17, 2026
Read more about L3Harris and U.S. Army test Red Wolf launch from MH-60 helicopter, paving way for long-range strike capability on Black Hawks

Tupolev chief says Russia rebuilt Tu-160M bomber supply chains and modernised 80% of systems and equipment to resume production

Russia rebuilt supply chains and upgraded factories to restart production of the Tu-160M strategic bomber, Tupolev chief executive Yuri Abrosimov said.

October 17, 2026

U.S. Air Force says F-22 pilot directed Anduril YFQ-44A Fury through flight maneuvers and simulated combat tasks in airborne test

The test examined how a fighter pilot can issue tactical instructions to an uncrewed aircraft whose onboard software executes them.

October 16, 2026

Operational F-15EX Eagle II fighters drop live JDAM bombs for first time during Weapons Instructor Course support at Nellis

Operational F-15EX Eagle II fighters have dropped live JDAM bombs for the first time while supporting the U.S. Air Force’s Weapons Instructor Course at Nellis Air Force Base.

October 16, 2026

Lockheed Martin hands over first C-130J-30 to U.S. Navy for conversion into E-130J Phoenix II to support nuclear fleet communications

The U.S. Navy has received the first C-130J-30 Super Hercules for conversion into the E-130J Phoenix II, its next-generation airborne nuclear communications aircraft.

October 16, 2026

Millog signs agreement with Lockheed Martin to maintain F-35 ground support equipment for Finland and other partner nations

Millog has signed an agreement with Lockheed Martin to maintain, repair, overhaul and upgrade F-35 ground support equipment.

October 16, 2026

Boeing reports 94 military aircraft deliveries through September, including Apache helicopters, fighter jets and KC-46 tankers

Boeing delivered more than 90 military aircraft in the first nine months of the year, reaching 94 after handing over 30 in the third quarter.

October 15, 2026

Land

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KNDS and RITEK have opened a factory in Levanger, Norway, that will build 37 of the Norwegian Army’s 54 Leopard 2A8NO main battle tanks. Production is scheduled to begin in autumn 2026 at a rate of up to 36 tanks a year.

KNDS and RITEK open new Leopard 2A8 tank factory in Norway to manufacture 37 main battle tanks for the Norwegian Army

October 16, 2026
Read more about KNDS and RITEK open new Leopard 2A8 tank factory in Norway to manufacture 37 main battle tanks for the Norwegian Army

Raytheon says Multi-Mission Launcher on Lynx XM30 is designed to use existing U.S. Army weapons and accommodate future effectors

Raytheon says its Multi-Mission Launcher gives the Lynx XM30 a way to use weapons already in the U.S. Army’s inventory while allowing new effectors to be added later.

October 16, 2026

U.S. Army Typhon battery assigned to Europe command fires its first Tomahawk missile during live-fire training in California

A U.S. Army battery assigned to Multi-Domain Command Europe fired its first Tomahawk Land Attack Missile from a newly fielded Typhon system on September 28.

October 15, 2026

Rafael USA and Leonardo DRS present Spike LR2 integration for Bradley’s TOW launchers

Rafael USA and Leonardo DRS have shown an adapter at AUSA 2026 that lets existing TOW launchers fire Spike LR2 guided missiles.

October 14, 2026

RENK and KNDS extend contract for Leopard 2 transmissions, with deliveries from 2029

RENK Group and KNDS Deutschland have expanded a Leopard 2 transmission order by around €130 million, with deliveries scheduled from 2029 to 2032.

October 14, 2026

Lockheed Martin and Avio partner on U.S. rocket motor production for ER GMLRS and PrSM

Production will begin after qualification at Avio USA’s facility under construction in Hurt, Virginia.

October 14, 2026

Honeywell Aerospace doubles supply of key Abrams engine part, removing fleet availability bottleneck

Honeywell Aerospace has doubled the supply of a critical Abrams tank engine component by adding an internal manufacturing source.

October 14, 2026

Sea

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The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $300 million sale of Tomahawk mission-planning systems and support to Australia. The October 8 approval covers equipment and services supporting the country’s expanding naval land-attack capability.

U.S. approves possible Tomahawk mission-planning sale to Australia to support long-range strikes from Hobart-class destroyers

October 17, 2026
Read more about U.S. approves possible Tomahawk mission-planning sale to Australia to support long-range strikes from Hobart-class destroyers

New Zealand orders five MH-60R Seahawk helicopters from United States to replace Seasprite fleet, with deliveries from 2030

New Zealand has signed an agreement with the United States to buy five MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters to replace its Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite fleet.

October 16, 2026

Saab and Swedish defence authorities complete sea trials of large underwater drone demonstrator within a year of contract award

Saab and Swedish defence authorities have completed the first phase of a large uncrewed underwater vehicle project following successful sea trials.

October 16, 2026

Pentagon says Bath Iron Works can build second Arleigh Burke destroyer, but additional ship still requires congressional funding

Bath Iron Works has demonstrated the capacity to build a second Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, the Pentagon said after reviewing improvements at the Maine shipyard.

October 15, 2026

HII says U.S. Navy contract expands its role in AUKUS submarine design and industrial support

HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division has won a $56 million U.S. Navy contract for engineering and design work under the AUKUS partnership.

October 14, 2026

Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS John Basilone joins U.S. naval forces in Europe

The guided-missile destroyer joins U.S. naval forces stationed in Europe for maritime security operations and training with NATO allies.

October 14, 2026

F-35C fighters complete landing and takeoff trials aboard aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy

Two Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II fighters have conducted landing and takeoff trials aboard John F. Kennedy in the Atlantic.

October 14, 2026

Space/C4ISR

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BlackSky has signed a seven-figure annual contract extension with HEO, adding higher-resolution Gen-3 imagery to a service that monitors spacecraft and other objects in orbit. The agreement expands automated image collection and analysis for defense, intelligence and commercial customers.

BlackSky expands HEO contract with higher-resolution satellite imagery to inspect spacecraft and track other objects in orbit

October 17, 2026
Read more about BlackSky expands HEO contract with higher-resolution satellite imagery to inspect spacecraft and track other objects in orbit

SpaceX launches classified USSF-481 mission for U.S. Space Force from California, marking Vandenberg’s 70th launch of 2026

SpaceX launched the U.S. Space Force’s classified USSF-481 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on October 15.

October 17, 2026

U.S. Space Force says China and Russia are fielding counterspace weapons that threaten satellites vital to military operations

Russia and China have fielded counterspace capabilities that threaten U.S. access to satellites used for military operations and civilian services, Space Systems Command said.

October 17, 2026

BAE Systems to develop compact satellite communications terminals for U.S. Space Force to operate amid jamming and radiation

BAE Systems will design and demonstrate ultra-compact radio-frequency terminals for a space-based data layer under a U.S. Space Force contract.

October 16, 2026

CSG takes 9.5% stake in MDA Space, becoming its largest shareholder in space sector push

The investment is part of the industrial and defence group’s plan to build space capabilities alongside its defence and aerospace businesses.

October 13, 2026

Northrop Grumman deploys 21 satellites to extend the Link 16 communications network into space

Twenty-one satellites built by Northrop Grumman have been launched and deployed for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer.

October 10, 2026

BlackSky wins six-figure pilot to give foreign intelligence agency on-demand 35-centimeter imagery

BlackSky Technology Inc. has picked up a new international intelligence customer, winning a six-figure pilot contract to supply an unnamed agency with very high-resolution satellite imagery.

October 9, 2026

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