Aerospace

BlueHalo has secured a $99.8m US orbital research contract vehicle. AFRL’s LOBO programme begins with two task orders and will support space-system research activity through August 2031.

American Systems will update P-8A maintenance training for Block 2. The $30.6m modification supports US Navy and Royal Australian Air Force crews, with software, hardware, courseware, and readiness-system integration running through January 2029.

Boeing has expanded its KC-46 foreign sales contract ceiling sharply. The $13.4bn modification lifts the vehicle to $19.1bn and adds scope for Japan, Israel, and future partner countries.

Britain has disclosed substantial military spending on SpaceX satellite services. The MoD holds roughly 1,000 Starshield and 500 Starlink terminals as commercial LEO connectivity becomes embedded alongside sovereign military communications.

Airbus will build the first IRIS² low-orbit satellite production layer. At least 66 spacecraft are due during 2029, carrying Thales payloads that will provide military Ka-band connectivity for European users.

The Netherlands intends to acquire one Saab GlobalEye surveillance aircraft. A Swedish-Dutch Letter of Intent covers the proposed purchase and longer-term cooperation, although Saab has not yet received an order.

France has ordered eight Airbus U050 Capa-X drones for evaluation. Army and Navy systems will arrive during 2027 following land and maritime trials of the modular 120kg UAS.

Teledyne has secured a $15.4m European drone energetics supply contract. Immediate deliveries support an unnamed manufacturer moving advanced uncrewed systems towards production, with the relationship potentially exceeding $50m.

Thales will supply governmental payloads across 330 planned IRIS² satellites. The initial €500m order covers secure communications electronics for both low-Earth-orbit layers of Europe’s sovereign connectivity programme.

Eutelsat and Skynopy will build Global AKAR ground infrastructure network. More than 100 antennas are planned by 2029, with software-defined access intended for commercial, institutional, defence, and other sensitive satellite applications.