Sensors / EW / ISR / Communications

When the U.S. Space Force recently announced it had awarded nine base contracts for one of its marquee new programs, it opted to disclose only one provider: SpaceX.

Canada has formally signed an agreement to acquire Australia's over-the-horizon radar technology, marking Australia's largest-ever defense export program.

Airmedic debuts a certified medical cabin for Learjet 45XRs featuring advanced life-support systems and satellite communications.

The U.S. Air Force is moving forward with a plan to install an over-the-horizon radar for homeland defense on two sites in Oregon.

The U.S. Space Force has awarded SpaceX a $4.16 billion contract to stand up an initial space-based air moving target indication (AMTI) constellation by 2028.

Canada is fast-tracking the acquisition and testing process for multidomain and autonomous surveillance systems compatible with harsh arctic conditions.

SOCOM plans autonomous test range at NASA’s Stennis Space Center to rehearse missions and test unmanned systems in contested environments.

Elliott Aviation President and CEO Michael Parrish discusses his key focus, market demand, first-time buyers, and mergers and acquisitions.

A major electronic warfare (EW) upgrade for the Royal Saudi Air Force fleet of Boeing F-15SA fighters has entered the early stages of the acquisition process within the U.S. Foreign Military Sales system.

Iridium has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Aileron space-based air traffic surveillance system that it hosts on its satellite network.

The National Reconnaissance Office is bringing additional remote sensing providers into a flexible contracting mechanism.

Viasat has announced that avionics engineering house L2 Aviation has joined its Velaris service offering for sat connectivity with AAM and eVTOLs.

York Space Systems is acquiring All.Space, a UK-based satcom terminal provider, to expand connectivity solutions for the U.S. military and others customers.

The most advanced Boeing P-8A Poseidon is operational, adding improved capability for wide-area signals intelligence against submarines, the U.S. Navy says.

The U.S. Air Force is now looking at options for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance uncrewed aircraft in the “attritable” cost category.

Elliott Aviation President and CEO Michael Parrish describes key focus, market demand, first-time buyers and M&A.

The U.S. Space Development Agency has tapped remote sensing company Capella to build two spacecraft and demonstrate advanced tactical satellite communications capabilities.

The UK Defense Ministry is exploring a rapid acquisition of uncrewed aircraft system radars for naval applications, aimed at detecting cruie missiles and other aircraft.

NATO’s initiative to replace its long-serving Boeing E-3A Sentry airborne early warning aircraft fleet has now moved into the “realization stage.”

National ambitions may hinder consolidation in the LEO constellation communications market.

Hensoldt says it is acquiring Dutch electro-optical sensor provider Nedinsco, with the deal set to close by midyear.

The Air Force secretary wants to fuse data gathered from a vast array of military and intelligence sensors for battle management.

An electronic warfare payload for a new class of high-altitude balloons is moving forward after a six-month pause for the U.S. Army to review the requirements.

The Department of the Air Force wants to test its ability to fuse sensor data from across the Defense Department via a series of exercises.

The Space Development Agency has awarded AST SpaceMobile a $30 million contract to demonstrate tactical satcom capabilities using commercial spacecraft.

Setna iO is acquiring a majority stake in J&C Aero, which adds Part 21 design and production capabilities to its portfolio.

The U.S. Space Force is working to advance its protected tactical satellite communication (satcom) efforts with boosted prototypes.

The U.S. Air Force is interested in low-risk options for space-based air moving target indicator satellites to inform a future acquisition strategy.

The Pentagon has called for a new generation of sensor and tracker systems to guide a future constellation of space-based interceptors into incoming missiles.

Singapore has selected the Saab Giraffe 1X radar to replace its Portable Search and Target Acquisition Radar for low-level air defense missions.

Capza of Paris is investing in cabin component supplier UUDS Group, following on the heels of its purchase of cabin/seat specialist Echeverria.

Bain Capital-backed interiors supplier Jamco Corp. has announced its second acquisition in as many months, agreeing to buy German lavatory specialist Schueschke

Hawaiian Airlines will upgrade the interiors of its Airbus A330 fleet beginning in 2028, part of a broader push to expand premium offerings.

CRANE closed acquisition of PRECISION SENSORS & INSTRUMENTATION (PSI), Armenia from Baker Hughes for $1.06b.

LIG Nex1 will develop an electronic warfare aircraft for South Korea's air force.

The Japanese Ministry of Defense (JMD) is to fund development of a privately operated synthetic aperture radar satellite constellation.

The BAE Systems PHASA-35 will operate monthslong airborne surveillance missions under a new AFRL contract.

AAR’s acquisition of Aircraft Reconfig Technologies should boost its engineering and certification capabilities.

Officials says the Department of the Air Force is moving quickly to award multiple competitive contracts for space-based moving target indication assets.

The U.S. Space Force will lead the acquisition and development of a new surveillance satellite constellation.

The market for inflight connectivity in business aviation is heating up with multiple options and more bandwidth.

Canada’s Defense Investment Agency will manage acquisitions of AEW aircraft, ground-based surveillance radars and air transport fleet upgrades.

Korean Air is revealing plans to install Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi across its own fleet and those of its subsidiaries.

Jamco Corporation plans to buy Iacobucci HF Aerospace S.p.A., a specialist in galley inserts such as espresso and beverage makers, trash compactors and ovens.

Hanwha Aerospace has been awarded a contract to produce the L-SAM system, which will form the outermost layer of South Korea's air and missile defense network.

Joramco and DAE have assembled a dream team of top executives to oversee an expanded facility in Amman and whatever comes next for this hugely-successful group.

A federal jury in Delaware has found that Gogo infringed on patents held by SmartSky Networks in launching its new 5G air-to-ground system.

Viasat says it is developing a new, electronically steered antenna for business jets.

Europe is gearing up for the launch of its next C-band environmental monitoring satellite with a growing sense of urgency to get Sentinel-1D operational.

Gogo announced at NBAA-BACE that MRO Standard Aero has completed a supplemental type certificate (STC) to install its FDX satcom terminal.

The U.S. Space Force’s next neighborhood watchdog spacecraft could be the first operational system capable of on-orbit refueling.

The U.S. Space Force has accepted the Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System (ATLAS) for operational use.

Capella Space parent IonQ has signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy to work on developing and deploying quantum technologies in space.

After languishing in budgetary limbo, an electronic warfare suite developed for the F-16 is now being pressed quickly into service.

Jamco, together with private investment firm Bain Capital, have announced the latter’s acquisition of Aerospace Technologies Group (ATG).

Satellite operator Viasat announced a fivefold increase in capacity of its JetXP connectivity service for business aviation across the eastern U.S.

Japan’s Ministry of Defense has announced the Synchronized, Hybrid, Integrated and Enhanced Littoral Defense (SHIELD) system as part of an effort to counter potential invading forces.

The U.S. Air Force plans to buy the Northrop Grumman APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) to replace and upgrade the existing sensor in certain C-130s.

The U.S. Air Force has taken steps to reduce the required capability of the new radar for its B-52 bomber as a way to reduce costs and improve schedule.

KAI has revealed a standoff jammer aircraft based on the Bombardier Global 6500 business jet, developed in partnership with Hanwha Systems.

Iceye says its synthetic aperture radar satellites can now capture 60,000 km² in a single scene with its “Scan Wide” mode.

The MDA has released a solicitation for a new southern-facing radar to be operational within three years to support the Golden Dome for America missile shield.

The U.S. Space Force has selected five companies to begin the process of building new space-based protected tactical satellite communications capabilities.

The Missile Defense Agency is looking for fresh options to develop a theater-based ground radar that would support the nascent Golden Dome for America program.

Blue Origin will fly a space domain awareness sensor built by Scout Space on its inaugural Blue Ring mission targeted for spring 2026, the company said.

The Senate Armed Services Committee wants to fund two versions of a future space-based data connectivity network as the Pentagon weighs the best option.

The BAE Systems PHASA-35 high-altitude, solar-electric, uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) will carry an Aloft Sensing X-band synthetic aperture radar.

The Space Force is replacing its legacy tactical and strategic satellite communications assets with disaggregated and proliferated spacecraft.

Boeing has landed the Evolved Strategic Satcom program, the U.S. Space Force said, as the service also cancels the Protected Tactical Satcom-Resilient program.

The Defense Department is debating how best to develop the space-based data connectivity backbone of its future force.

Israeli strike and surveillance quadcopter drone maker Xtend plans to start delivering 3,000 systems a month from a plant in Tampa, Florida.

The U.S. Space Force anticipates the initial use of a ground system developed to support its new protected tactical waveform on orbit in fiscal 2027.

The U.S. Space Force’s CSCO anticipates starting the acquisition process to buy commercially derived maneuverable satellites for use in GEO by early next year.