DefenceTalkIsrael’s Defense Ministry has successfully launched Ofek 10, a next-generation satellite that will provide highly-targeted surveillance of specific locations – such as Iran’s nuclear sites. “We continue to increase the vast qualitative and technological advantage over our neighbors,” said Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon at the launch at a test site in central Israel, Israeli media […]https://www.defencetalk.com/israel-launches-cutting-edge-satellite-to-spy-on-middle-east-adversaries-59294/

DefenceTalkRussian lawmakers have endorsed draft legislation to allow the country to set up a satellite navigation monitoring system in Nicaragua, a Cabinet committee said Tuesday. “The agreement is aimed at creating an organizational and legal framework for mutually beneficial partnership between Russia and Nicaragua in terms of exploring and using space for peaceful purposes,” the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russian-lawmakers-approve-satellite-navigation-hub-in-nicaragua-59258/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS) has completed a series of ground and air demonstrations at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., expanding the adaptability of the Global Hawk system to use an additional Satellite Communications (SATCOM) link to improve the transfer of mission data. At the request of the U.S. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/global-hawk-expands-satellite-communications-capability-59240/

DefenceTalkA Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellite built by Lockheed Martin was successfully launched today at 7:46 a.m. from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. atop an Atlas V rocket. Lockheed Martin confirmed signal acquisition shortly after launch. DMSP-19 is the fourth Block 5D-3 version to be launched, and Lockheed Martin has produced more than 40 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/usaf-satellite-launched-today-will-improve-weather-prediction-59226/

DefenceTalkBoeing has applied new anti-jamming technology to an existing military satellite for the first time, expanding the military’s potential to access secure communications more affordably. In the test conducted Dec. 15, Boeing successfully sent a government-developed, protected signal through the sixth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-6) satellite. Engineers confirmed that the signal met all targets for […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-transmits-protected-government-signal-through-military-satellite-50100/

DefenceTalkIn one year, Northrop Grumman took a satellite communications system normally used in space and transformed it into a high-functioning, low-cost communications system that can be used on aircraft. The satellite communications (SATCOM) system was successfully demonstrated on board the company’s Firebird demonstrator aircraft. Until now, no small communications system has been able to send […]https://www.defencetalk.com/northrop-reinvents-satellite-communications-for-aircraft-49946/

DefenceTalkRussia successfully launched a Proton-M rocket carrying a military satellite in the early hours of Tuesday from its Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The launch took place at 03:46 Moscow time (23:46 GMT) carrying a satellite for the Russian defence ministry, the Russian space agency Roscosmos said. Russia restarted launches of Proton rockets in September after […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-launches-proton-rocket-with-military-satellite-49624/

DefenceTalkLockheed Martin has submitted its competitive proposal for the U.S. Air Force’s Hosted Payload Solutions (HoPS) initiative aimed at leveraging commercial satellites for some government missions. According to the August 1 government solicitation, HoPS will provide the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) and other U.S. government organizations with “a capability for hosting […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-usaf-satellite-hosted-payload-initiative-49190/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Air Force’s third Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications satellite, designed and built by a Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] team, is ready to launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Launch is set for Sept. 18 with a two-hour launch window opening at […]https://www.defencetalk.com/usaf-ready-to-launch-third-advanced-extremely-high-frequency-satellite-49096/

DefenceTalkAMOS-4, built by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for Spacecom, was successfully launched last night (August 31, 2013) from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, aboard a ZENIT 3SLB launcher. This morning (September 01, 2013) the satellite separated from the launcher’s last stage and has started communicating with the ground control station and mission control. IAI engineers have started Transfer […]https://www.defencetalk.com/israel-aerospace-industries-iai-has-successfully-launched-spacecoms-amos-4-48917/