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11 Jun 25. Announcing Sierra Space Defense.
- Emerging Defense-Tech Prime Launches Dedicated Defense Business to Reinvigorate the U.S. Defense Industrial Base
- Enlarged Commercial Infrastructure Built with New “Victory Works” Facility Dedicated to Innovation-at-Speed Defense Technology
Sierra Space, a leading commercial space company and emerging defense-tech prime, announced today the chartering of new operation dedicated to supporting national security space as a prime contractor: Sierra Space Defense. The company also unveiled expansion plans with a new production facility called “Victory Works,” adding 60,000 square feet of manufacturing space and bringing Sierra Space’s total infrastructure to more than one million square feet across seven states. The launch of Sierra Space Defense and related infrastructure expansion plans are driven by a palpable sense of urgency: the United States is facing new threats and near-peer adversaries at unprecedented levels in the space domain. In response to the evolving threat environment, Sierra Space is retooling its commercial capacity to focus on revitalizing the U.S. defense industrial base through innovative satellite and spacecraft systems technology. Since 2023, Sierra Space has secured $1.5bn in national security and defense contracts, for production on 30 satellites; included in that figure are 18 missile warning and defense satellites awarded by the Space Development Agency (SDA) in January 2024, as part of a $740m prime contract to support the SDA’s Tranche 2 Tracking Layer. In addition, Space Force awarded Sierra Space a “Quick Start” Resilient GPS (R-GPS) agreement in September 2024. And the company continues to make strides in its spacecraft systems business, boasting more than 20 active contracts for solar arrays and other components.
Sierra Space Vice President Erik Daehler will helm the new organization.
“We are mission-focused and dedicated to supporting our national security customers and the revitalization of the U.S. defense industrial base. Commercial space companies now have a profound responsibility to help lead an entirely new era for national defense,” Daehler said. “The creation of Sierra Space Defense enables stronger partnerships – such as our steadfast partnership with SNC – to tackle the hardest mission problems like Golden Dome. Our new Sierra Space Defense organization is a testament to our dedication to innovation at speed and excellence in satellite and spacecraft systems production, which will shape the future of defense technology.”
Sierra Space will dedicate a new manufacturing facility, called “Victory Works,” to defense technology. Located in Centennial, Colorado, the 60,000 square-foot space will play a pivotal role in the production of the company’s new Sierra Space Eclipse™ satellite bus line, a key component in Sierra Space’s efforts to enhance the capabilities of the U.S. defense sector. This expansion is on top of 24,000 square feet of existing sites dedicated to national security and defense work.
Lt. Gen. John E. Shaw (U.S. Space Force, Ret.) serves on Sierra Space’s National Security Space Strategic Advisor Group. “The growing scope and scale of what our adversaries are doing in space is alarming, and the threat environment is evolving rapidly as near-peer challenges accelerate,” Shaw said. “Commercial space companies possess the speed and agility required to outpace our adversaries and effectively respond to our critical national security space needs.”
In the Sierra Space Defense Portfolio:
- Sierra Space Eclipse: a next generation product line of small, high performance, affordable satellites for on-orbit servicing missions
- Sierra Space Ghost: a state-of-the-art space delivery system engineered to safely return objects from space – and through space – directly to precise locations on Earth
- Sierra Space Spectre: a revolutionary satellite designed for precision rendezvous proximity operations (RPO)
- Sierra Black OS: an advanced AI-enabled operating systemthat is able to operate across space, air and ground systems seamlessly
(Source: ASD Network)
10 Jun 25. Skeyeon, a pioneer in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) satellite systems, today announced the issuance of three foundational U.S. patents that collectively redefine what is possible for long-duration, high-performance, low-cost space missions at altitudes below 300 km. These patents cover critical innovations in spacecraft architecture, communications, and materials science, each solving longstanding obstacles that have historically limited sustained operations in VLEO.
Newly Issued Patents:
- Patent No. 12,258,307 – System for Producing Remote Sensing Data from Near-Earth Orbit
Issued: March 25, 2025
Inventors: Ronald E. Reedy, Thomas E. Schwartzentruber
Impact: Defines the baseline spacecraft design and mission-enabling parameters necessary for multi-year, low-cost VLEO satellite operations, including orbital mechanics, drag mitigation, and sensor integration.
- Patent No. 12,267,146 – Radio Frequency Data Downlink for a High Revisit Rate, Near Earth Orbit Satellite System
Issued: April 1, 2025
Inventors: Dan Nobbe, Ronald E. Reedy
Impact: Introduces a novel, low-power communication method utilizing opposing phased array antennae—functioning like an inverted cellular system—to achieve ultra-high data rates in VLEO conditions, supporting daily re-imagery of the entire earth
- Patent No. 12,311,634 – Atomic Oxygen-Resistant, Low Drag Coatings and Materials
Issued: May 27, 2025
Inventors: Timothy K. Minton, Thomas E. Schwartzentruber
Impact: Enables the use of specialized coatings that reduce atmospheric drag by over 50% while resisting the corrosive effects of atomic oxygen, unlocking affordable and durable VLEO missions.
“These patents represent major steps forward not just for Skeyeon, but for the future of Earth observation and real-time data systems,” said Dr. Ron Reedy, CEO and co-founder of Skeyeon. “We’ve proven that with the right design, materials, and communications strategy, Very Low Earth Orbit is not only viable—it’s the most efficient and powerful vantage point we have.”
With a strong and growing IP portfolio, Skeyeon continues to accelerate the deployment of resilient, high-revisit satellites for defense, commercial, industrial, and environmental monitoring and tracking, as well as global connectivity.
For more information, visit www.skeyeon.com. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
10 Jun 25. BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) has delivered the first very high-resolution images from the company’s second Gen-3 satellite just 12 hours following its successful launch last Monday.
“In today’s national security environment, BlackSky’s customers require space-based intelligence that moves at warfighter speed,” said Brian O’Toole, BlackSky CEO. “BlackSky’s newest Gen-3 satellite has delivered low-latency, very high-resolution imagery on its first day in orbit demonstrating the maturity of our AI-enabled architecture and demonstrates the agile, mission-ready resilience of our commercial capabilities today.”
Early morning Gen-3, unit 2, imagery collected yesterday at 7:45 a.m. China Standard Time over Golmud Air Base, Qinghai Province, China has demonstrated the timely operational value of high-cadence, space-based dynamic monitoring capabilities in support of strategic and tactical surveillance, reconnaissance and tracking defense and intelligence missions. Gen-3 gives decision makers the ability to discern vital aircraft movements, ground vehicle positioning and critical facility operations that can provide valuable real-time context to multisource intelligence efforts.
“BlackSky is committed to giving customers an unparalleled operational advantage at disruptive speed, scale and economics. Our real-time dynamic monitoring capabilities offer a strong complement to national space assets, especially in support of time-dominant strategic and tactical operations,” said O’Toole.
As part of BlackSky’s high-cadence, time-diverse constellation, each new Gen-3 satellite is expected to accelerate the development of new customer applications in automated real-time and predictive battlefield monitoring. Gen-3 customers have subscription-based access to high-cadence, time diverse 35-centimeter very high-resolution imagery with AI-enabled automated detection analytics that identify and classify a wide library of vehicles, aircraft, vessels and other objects of military interest. As BlackSky’s constellation evolves with the regular addition of Gen-3 satellites, BlackSky will continue to optimize for increased constellation capacity and flexibility giving customers confidence in reliable access to services.
10 Jun 25. Hanwha Systems, a leading South Korean defense and aerospace technology company, announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BAE Systems, the UK’s premier defense and security company, to jointly develop an advanced multi-sensor satellite system. This collaboration will look to integrate BAE Systems’ ultra-wideband Radio Frequency (RF) sensor technology with Hanwha Systems’ cutting-edge small Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite capabilities. Together, the two companies will explore the creation of a powerful space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance solution and strengthen their competitiveness in the global satellite market. The multi-sensor satellite system will combine data from both RF and SAR satellites and leverage machine learning to deliver precise, timely, and high-resolution intelligence. By fusing different types of satellite data, the system is expected to significantly enhance situational awareness and offer a formidable space-based surveillance asset.
Rachael Hoyle, Space Director, BAE Systems Digital Intelligence saids: “Bringing together our pedigree in space with Hanwha Systems’ expertise in SAR satellites represents an exciting opportunity to progress ISR capabilities from space for international markets. We’re looking forwards to building this relationship and advancing space technologies together.”
Sung-Chan Song, Head of the Space Division, Hanwha Systems saids: “Small SAR satellites are becoming increasingly recognised as invaluable resources for surveillance and reconnaissance. Hanwha Systems is proud to collaborate with BAE Systems and as we looks to further expand our presence in the global satellite market.”
Hanwha Systems is the provider of the SAR payload for the 425 Project, South Korea’s first military reconnaissance satellite program. In December 2023, the company successfully launched a 1-meter resolution small SAR satellite developed entirely with domestic technology, demonstrating its leadership in civilian-led Earth observation and surveillance capabilities. Hanwha is also participating in Korea’s first low Earth orbit (LEO) communications satellite development project, led by the Agency for Defense Development, and is actively contributing to the creation of an independent military satellite constellation.– END.
06 Jun 25. L3Harris Delivers Advanced Offensive Space Capability to Space Force. Meadowlands system safeguards U.S. military operations and warfighters with improved jamming capabilities and increased mobility. U.S. Space Force Gen. Stephen Whiting, Commander of U.S. Space Command, stated at this year’s Space Symposium, “It is our opponents, most notably China, who have accelerated the terrestrial and on-orbit space weapons and expanded their space-enabled kill chains. They are moving at jaw-dropping speed, and they’ve deployed vast armed arsenals of missiles, all deliberately fielded to threaten our homeland.” To help answer the call for space superiority and deter future threats, L3Harris developed and recently delivered Meadowlands systems to the U.S. Space Force’s Electromagnetic Warfare unit with additional units planned for distribution to various customer sites in the future. Meadowlands is a ground-based and transportable Counter Communications System (CCS) designed to block or disrupt enemy adversary satellite communications. It can maneuver with ease, deploy rapidly, scale to meet mission requirements, and is composed of radio frequency equipment with a flexible design that allows plug-and-play integration of updates or new technologies. USSF Col. Bryon E.C. McClain, Program Executive Officer for Space Combat Power, Space Systems Command, recently stated about Meadowlands, “We signed for the acceptance, which means it is now ours to move forward into the formal government testing process, our developmental testing and operational testing. We’ve had good success with the contractor testing, so we are optimistic that this next phase of more rigorous testing will be successful.”
“For more than 60 years, L3Harris has been a leader in providing innovative systems and tools to protect U.S. forces and ensure our adversaries are at a disadvantage in the space domain,” said Ed Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris Technologies. “Meadowlands is a capability that will give our country and allies a decisive advantage in an increasingly highly contested space.”
Smaller than the previous CCS, Meadowlands is mounted on wheeled trailers. The radar-like units can be repositioned with ease, making it more difficult for adversaries to pinpoint and counter them. Meadowlands will take CCS capabilities to another level — providing more efficient jamming in a more portable and automated system. (Source: ASD Network)
02 Jun 25. Iridium + Syniverse partner to deliver D2D satellite connectivity to global MNOs. Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) recently partnered with Syniverse to support the rollout of Iridium NTN DirectSM service with mobile network operators (MNOs) worldwide. Through this partnership, Iridium NTN Direct is integrating with Syniverse’s global platform, making it easy for MNOs to keep their customers continuously connected everywhere on the planet. According to GSMA’s 2025 Industry Survey, 85% of MNOs planning to pursue non-terrestrial network (NTN) service are seeking a LEO solution that extends their coverage globally. As part of 3GPP Release 19, Iridium NTN Direct will provide truly global, standards-based direct-to-device (D2D) and narrow-band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) messaging and SOS for consumer devices, automobiles and industrial applications in agriculture, transportation, logistics, energy and utilities. The combination of MNO requirements and Iridium NTN Direct capabilities makes it the ideal solution. With Iridium NTN Direct, MNOs will know they have a reliable partner with a fully deployed, owned and operated satellite constellation, unmatched coverage, globally coordinated mobile satellite services (MSS) spectrum, and a history of providing reliable safety of life services. We’re building the backbone of the global D2D movement, the right way and with the right partners as we prepare for on-air testing with MNOs and chipmakers in the coming months,” said Iridium CEO Matt Desch. “The integration of Syniverse’s system with the Iridium® network will give MNOs a simple path to expand their footprint to the entire planet.” Satellite networks are becoming a natural extension of the mobile ecosystem, and our role at Syniverse is to make that transition seamless,” said Andrew Davies, Chief Executive Officer of Syniverse. “By integrating Iridium NTN Direct into the global mobile framework using standards-based, carrier-grade systems, Syniverse is simplifying deployment, ensuring consistency and security, and accelerating access to non-terrestrial connectivity.” (Source: Satnews)
02 Jun 25. Rocket Lab launches BlackSky’s “Full Stream Ahead” Earth observing Gen-3 satellite mission. Rocket Lab’s “Full Stream Ahead” mission lifted off at 7:57 p.m. ET (June 2) launching to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) an Earth-observing “Gen-3” satellite for Virginia-based BlackSky. Photo by Satnews. The goal for “Full Stream Ahead,” is to deliver the spacecraft to a circular orbit 292 miles (470 kilometers) above Earth. The spacecraft “will join the remainder of the company’s constellation delivering very high-resolution imagery and AI-enabled analytics for daily intelligence operations,” Rocket Lab wrote in a mission description. Rocket Lab added that, “‘Full Stream Ahead’ is the second in a series of four Electron launches booked by BlackSky to deploy its Gen-3 satellites to orbit this year, and the 10th overall [Electron] launch for the company — making Electron the most prolific launcher for their constellation to date.” (Source: Satnews)
04 Jun 25. SpaceX launches Starlink Group 11-22 smallsats from foggy California. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 sent 27 Starlink Group 11-22 smallsats soaring increasing the Starlink constellation on Wednesday, June 4 at 4:40 PDT. The rocket launched from a very foggy Vandenberg to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Photos by Satnews. This was the 26th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, DART, Transporter-7, Iridium OneWeb, SDA-0B, NROL-113, NROL-167, NROL-149, and 17 Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage successfully landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, stationed in the Pacific Ocean. (Source: Satnews)
10 Jun 25. In a world-first, Kymeta, the company reimagining satellite connectivity, today announces a major technological leap: simultaneously operating across both Ku and Ka satellite bands in a single, compact antenna – laying the technical groundwork to enable seamless connectivity across satellite networks. This breakthrough marks a significant milestone for the satellite communications industry, ending a legacy of siloed satcom limitations. Kymeta has now advanced the ability to interoperate across satellite networks in different bands and different orbits, in a move to make satellite as seamless and ubiquitous as cellular.
Bruno Fromont, Intelsat CTO said: “Transformative technology milestones like this spark a catalytic shift across an entire landscape. Kymeta’s ability to unify Ku- and Ka- band connections through a single mobile antenna is a foundational leap toward combined satellite networks, making communication as seamless and automatic as the cellular networks we use every day. This success is changing the game.”
The ability to connect to both Ku- and Ka-band beams offers immediate and significant benefits – unlocking higher bandwidth, faster data rates, and more bits per second (bps). This also enables continuous connectivity, a vital component toward making advanced AI at the edge a reality. The breakthrough will now allow manufacturers to build the advanced tech of the future where this is a requirement. This achievement meets the demands of global militaries. The US Space Force vision whitepaper in 2020 outlined the requirement to support multi-bands, orbits, waveforms and a “network of networks to support responsive and agile operations”. Along with traditional C2 (command and control) functions, autonomous applications such as unmanned surface and aerial vehicles (USV, UAV and UGVs) require strong, reliable connectivity to operate and be competitive on the battlefield. This serves as a network hub and backhaul for downstream communication using MANET, mesh and cellular networks that will enable autonomous system operations at scale.
Ian Canning, president and CEO of Eutelsat America Corp + OneWeb Technologies (EACOWT) comments: “The U.S. DOD and defense forces around the globe require increasingly sophisticated, flexible and secure communications, which includes the need for high-performance, multi-band, multi-orbit connectivity from a single antenna. Kymeta’s ESA platform, reflecting their continued investment in innovation, is truly disruptive, and brings multi-orbit and multi-band capabilities into the modern era. I look forward to collaborating with Kymeta to develop world class satellite communication products that will open the door to the resilient communications required in the modern battlefield.”
Relying on a single network connection is insufficient to meet the complex and evolving needs of modern global forces, making multi-band beam switching a strategic necessity. This capability allows for simultaneous and redundant communication links, which are critical for maintaining operational integrity in contested or jamming-prone environments while on the move.
General (ret) Paul J Kern, former Commanding General, Army Materiel Command, currently Senior Counselor, The Cohen Group comments: “Kymeta’s breakthrough in seamless switching between Ku and Ka satellite bands delivers the kind of resilient, always-on communications that advanced military platforms and autonomous systems demand. This is a major step forward in preparing and equipping our forces for the modern battlefield. This capability would have made an enormous difference to my operations in the desert of Iraq.”
The technology was successfully demonstrated and validated at Kymeta on April 22, 2025. This achievement was made possible by Kymeta’s unique metamaterials antenna surface. Until this point, interoperability in the Ku and Ka bands has been possible only with Electronic Steered Antennas (ESA) using multiple physically separate antennas, which proves problematic due to the size and power usage required to operate. This technological disruption by Kymeta allows connectivity in both bands in one single antenna, giving space efficiency, low power consumption, and low cost (SWaP-C).
Kymeta Chief Scientist, Ryan Stevenson, says: “At Kymeta we’ve never followed convention. What began as novel metamaterials technology is now a proven engineering foundation – first brought to market in 2017, and now central to this groundbreaking achievement. We’ve turned breakthrough physics into a powerful, trusted toolkit. Using this toolkit we have now addressed the most challenging requirement in satellite communications. We have cracked the code on seamless multi-orbit, multi-band connectivity – and have set the standard for next-generation satellite communications.”
How it works
The physical area of Kymeta’s multi-band antenna aperture consisting of four, interleaved sub-arrays – Ku transmit, Ku receive, Ka transmit and Ka receive – allows for simultaneous and independently controlled Ku and Ka full duplex beams from its metamaterials surface. Structuring the antenna in this way, and pairing it with advanced AI algorithms for intelligent routing, enables frequency reuse and alleviates spectrum contention via Kymeta’s narrower receive and transmit beams. These beams are more focused and operate at higher directivity, promoting spectrum efficiency and interference mitigation, such as GEO / LEO beam straying, jamming and adverse weather like rain fade and atmospheric losses.
Further Innovation / Funding
With the success of this innovative advancement, fueled by the company’s VC support and Silicon Valley spirit, Kymeta looks towards its next phase of growth and will be working with strategic investment partners, as well as key government programs, who share the company’s vision to scale this universal transformation.
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