Golden Dome

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The Pentagon is casting a wide net for work under the Golden Dome air and missile defense program.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Vivienne Machi
The U.S. Space Force has awarded the first batch of prototype contracts for the space-based interceptors (SBI) element of the Golden Dome, but details are scarce.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Space Force expects to award contracts for space-based midcourse interceptors in February.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Irene Klotz
Blue Origin has unveiled a series of upgrades that will roll out beginning with Flight 3 in early 2026.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Matthew Fulco
Ursa Major, a startup that builds propulsion systems for hypersonics, solid rocket motors, in-space mobility and space launch, has raised $100 million.
Supply Chain

By Matthew Fulco
Venture capital funding in American defense startups is on track for its best year ever, according to private market data firm PitchBook.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
RTX argues that fielding a Golden Dome capability quickly means relying on systems that are currently fielded.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Vivienne Machi
Firefly Aerospace intends to make a second attempt to launch the seventh mission of its Alpha rocket by early next calendar year.
Commercial Space

By Vivienne Machi
Technology company Varda Space Industries wants the U.S. military to use its reentry capsule for Golden Dome-related reps and sets.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Robert Wall
Voyager Technologies expects to complete the critical design review (CDR) for the Starlab commercial space station soon.
Commercial Space

By Garrett Reim
Voyager Technologies has acquired ExoTerra Resources, a Hall-effect propulsion developer, for an undisclosed amount.
Emerging Technologies

By Vivienne Machi
Trump’s Golden Dome is driving calls for a new layer in the Pentagon’s future on-orbit architecture.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Vivienne Machi
The U.S. Space Force has tapped Vantor to help it track high-interest objects on orbit using non-Earth imaging, the company announced Oct. 22.
Commercial Space

By Vivienne Machi
Satellite bus manufacturer Apex is funding and organizing a space-based interceptor technology demonstration within the next year.
Satellites

By Matthew Fulco
Firefly Aerospace will pay $855 million to acquire defense technology company SciTec, the Texas-based startup said on Oct 5.
Supply Chain

By Robert Wall
AeroVironment is looking to parlay its work on counter-uncrewed air system (C-UAS) laser weapons to go after anticipated business to combat higher-end threats.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
Firefly Aerospace is looking at potential ways to secure a share of the space-based interceptor market emerging from the Pentagon’s Golden Dome effort.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Vivienne Machi
The U.S. Space Force on Sept. 18 released a request for prototype proposals for space-based interceptors, with responses due Oct. 2.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Matthew Fulco
Satellite bus manufacturer Apex has raised $200 million in a Series D funding round and reached a $1 billion valuation, the company said on Sept. 12.
Satellites

By Brian Everstine
President Trump’s goal of a Golden Dome to protect against a broad range of threats to the homeland is likely to cost far more than originally advertised.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Vivienne Machi
When lawmakers return to Capitol Hill after Labor Day, they will be staring down a government shutdown deadline.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Vivienne Machi
Defense companies are bracing for risk as the Pentagon signals it may require self-funded prototypes for space-based interceptors.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Matthew Fulco
The military alliance between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States faces formidable challenges four years after its establishment.
Budget, Policy & Operations