American aerospace and defense giant shaping space, air, and cyber capabilities
A wave of space-based data-center startups and defense-aligned ventures are racing to deploy orbital computing. Companies plan test satellites, funding rounds, and government programs to scale AI workloads in orbit, while observers caution about the cost, heat management, and regulatory hurdles.
The White House has requested $87.6 billion in supplemental spending, primarily to replenish Pentagon munitions and operational costs tied to the Iran war, and to fund farm aid, Ebola response and domestic projects. OMB Director Russell Vought has urged Congress to act quickly; lawmakers in both parties are questioning whether to approve tens of billions more for the conflict.
NASA and partners are pursuing a high‑risk salvage to boost the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory into a higher, stable orbit. A Katalyst Space Technologies robot will capture Swift and lift it from 224 miles to about 373 miles, extending its life as solar activity threatens its destruction in October.
NASA has hired Katalyst Space Technologies to send Link, a three-armed drone, to grab the Swift Observatory and lift it to a higher orbit. The mission, launched from the Marshall Islands, aims to prevent Swift from burning up in Earth’s atmosphere and keep it scanning gamma-ray bursts and exploding stars.
Northrop Grumman has launched the Link spacecraft, built by Katalyst Space Technologies, from the Marshall Islands, as part of a broader set of aerospace developments including NASA Artemis III, SpaceX IPO expectations, Prada-designed spacesuits, and a spacewalk to repair a robotic arm.
The US has intensified strikes against Iran as defense stocks remain depleted. A Pennsylvania defense summit highlights vulnerabilities in the supply chain, with officials urging faster production and greater resilience as regional conflicts escalate.
NATO allies have announced more than $50 billion in new procurements and cross-border production deals, signaling a rapid buildup in military hardware and cooperation. The moves include drones, airborne warning aircraft, and a transatlantic push to expand European manufacturing capacity. Analysts say the money is real and the pace will accelerate, with continued questions about political turnout and legitimacy.
Northrop Grumman has launched MRV, a robotic vehicle with 10-foot arms to service geostationary satellites. It attaches electric jetpacks to aging assets, enabling in-orbit upgrades and life extensions of up to eight years per satellite. First operations are expected in the coming weeks once GEO reach is achieved.
At Farnborough, Boeing’s Ghost Bat leads a pack of rival autonomous combat aircraft, with General Atomics, Anduril, and Lockheed Martin unveiling or showcasing models. The U.S. Air Force aims for a price well under $80 million per jet and expects hundreds of aircraft annually by the mid-2030s, as world powers invest in crewed-uncrewed teaming and next‑generation combat air power.
Katalyst Space Technologies’ Link, built to rescue NASA’s Swift gamma-ray observatory, has begun tumbling in orbit. Engineers are working to slow its spin and maintain control as the mission to boost Swift’s orbit faces a race against time.
The Pentagon has urged defense firms to dramatically speed up production to replenish reduced stockpiles amid ongoing tensions with Iran. Feinberg has called for plans within 21 days to boost capacity, signaling a push to rebuild the defense industrial base as Congress debates funding.