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Space

AST SpaceMobile Nabs First Space Development Agency Award Under Europa Effort

By Cal Biesecker

Monday, February 23rd, 2026

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AST SpaceMobile Nabs First Space Development Agency Award Under Europa Effort

A Falcon 9 rocket lifts the first five AST SpaceMobile BlueBird satellites during a September 2024 launch. Photo: AST SpaceMobile

The Space Development Agency (SDA) on Monday said it has awarded a $30 million prototype contract to AST SpaceMobile, Inc. [ASTS], to demonstrate low-latency tactical satellite communications using the company’s commercial spacecraft. The Other Transaction Agreement is for Track 2 of the Europa program and the first overall for Europa. The demonstrations are slated to be completed by December 2027, SDA said. AST will leverage its BlueBird commercial satellite constellation for the series of resilient tactical satellite communications demonstrations between…

Budd And Shaheen Bill Would Authorize 329 F-15EX Fighters

Two members of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), have introduced the Airpower Acceleration Act, which would authorize multi-year procurements of […]

Congress

HASC’s Wittman Sees ‘Challenging’ Push For $350B In Reconciliation Funds, Wants Sustained Defense Increase

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.– Congress’ work to pass $350 billion in reconciliation funds to support the Trump administration’s push for a $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2027 defense topline is “going to […]

Army

Army Secretary Says “We Need To Over-Invest in FLRAA To Get It Online As Quickly As Possible”

Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee’s defense panel (HAC-D), said on Thursday that the Army’s budget plan beginning in fiscal 2027 has more than $2 billion […]

Congress

Pentagon Fiscal 2027 Budget To Address Cannibalization Of Parts For F-35, Legislator Says

The Pentagon’s upcoming fiscal 2027 budget request will help reduce the cannibalization of parts for the F-35 fighter by Lockheed Martin [LMT], the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s […]