L3Harris will provide technology to support the Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 (AMDT3) mission, designed to accelerate the US ability to defend against emerging threats from hypersonic and ballistic missiles. By Atharva Gosavi, Published by Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026 The satellites will use medium-field-of-view payloads to provide fire control
An artist's depiction of the Pentagon's Golden Dome concept. (Boeing) By Courtney Albon, Published by Air and Space Forces, 13 July 2026 The Space Development Agency announced contracts worth $1.75 billion to build 36 satellites in support of the Pentagon’s Golden Dome missile defense shield. The satellites will be part
A Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor to track hypersonic missiles in during their glide phase. (Northrop Grumman) By Courtney Albon, Published by Air and Space Forces, 8 May 2026 The Missile Defense Agency will test its ability to track and engage a hypersonic missile in fiscal 2027 with an
Image Credit: L3Harris Technologies By Tim Fernholz, Published by Payload, 18 April 2026 President Donald Trump’s executive order calling for a new, satellite-based missile defense architecture around the continental US has defense contractors salivating, but questions about the cost, capabilities, and requirement for such a system remain unanswered. Are we
The Space Development Agency's Tranche 1 Tracking Layer is designed to detect, track and ultimately target hypersonic and ballistic missiles. Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman By Courtney Albon, Published by Air and Space Forces, 27 March 2026 The tech industry’s pursuit of space-based AI data centers has potentially significant implications for
By Drago Bosnic, Published by Infobrics, 20 March 2026 The American Military Industrial Complex is exhilarated with such a windfall (considering the system's costs). Such a project has many similarities with the (First) Cold War-era SDI (also known as "Star Wars"). Still, the idea of space-based weapons is a highly
Illustration of space-based missile defense Credit: Space Systems Command By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 17 March 2026 Guetlein: ‘We were asked to procure some additional space capabilities’ ARLINGTON, Va. — The Pentagon has increased its cost estimate for the Golden Dome missile defense initiative to $185 billion over
An illustration of the Golden Dome. Credit: Arcfield By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 25 February 2026 Leaders of U.S. Space Command, U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Northern Command closely involved in Golden Dome planning WASHINGTON — The commanders of three key combatant commands said they have been deeply
