🪐 Portal Space Unveils Starburst, a Maneuverable Micro-Spacecraft for Responsive Missions

📬 In Today’s Defense Brief

🛰️ ScanEagle Drone Gets Satellite Control, Unlocking Global ISR Reach — Read More

🚀 Firefly Aerospace Finalizes $855M SciTec Deal, Expanding Its National Security Footprint — Read More

🪐 Portal Space Unveils Starburst, a Maneuverable Micro-Spacecraft for Responsive Missions — Read More

🛡️ DHS Opens $500M Counter-Drone Grant Program for State and Local Agencies — Read More

⚙️ Army Brings 3D Metal Printing to the Frontline With New Cold-Spray Tech — Read More

🎱 Plus 9 other news stories you may like

📰 Full Breakdown

🛰️ ScanEagle Drone Gets Satellite Control, Unlocking Global ISR Reach — Read More

• Boeing subsidiary Insitu upgraded its ScanEagle drone with Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) satellite communications, giving operators beyond-line-of-sight control from virtually anywhere. The system maintains command links even if GPS or radio signals are jammed or lost.

• The integration of a new laser designator enables ScanEagle to mark and guide precision strikes, expanding its mission set from ISR to full ISR-T (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting).

• With 1.3 million flight hours logged, ScanEagle now combines endurance, modular sensors, and global satellite control—cementing its role as a low-cost, high-reliability unmanned solution for land and maritime operations.

🚀 Firefly Aerospace Finalizes $855M SciTec Deal, Expanding Its National Security Footprint — Read More

• Firefly Aerospace closed its $855 million acquisition of defense analytics firm SciTec, paying $300 million in cash and $555 million in stock. The move significantly broadens Firefly’s software, data, and AI capabilities for national security missions.

• SciTec adds 475 employees and six facilities near key government customers, specializing in missile warning, ISR, space domain awareness, and autonomous command-and-control systems.

• CEO Jason Kim called the merger “a leap toward edge processing for dynamic space operations,” positioning Firefly as a vertically integrated player spanning launch, spacecraft, and analytic infrastructure for the U.S. defense community.

🪐 Portal Space Unveils Starburst, a Maneuverable Micro-Spacecraft for Responsive Missions — Read More

• Washington-based Portal Space Systems introduced Starburst, a highly maneuverable micro-spacecraft designed for rendezvous, proximity operations, and rapid orbital changes to support national security and commercial constellations.

• Scheduled to fly on SpaceX’s Transporter-18 mission in 2026, Starburst-1 will test maneuverability of over 1 km/s Δv using heated ammonia propulsion and host payloads from TRL11 and Zenno Astronautics.

• CEO Jeff Thornburg said the fully funded mission will de-risk tech for Portal’s larger Supernova platform debuting 2027, offering customers rapid, low-cost orbital agility across proliferated architectures.

🛡️ DHS Opens $500M Counter-Drone Grant Program for State and Local Agencies — Read More

• The Department of Homeland Security launched a $500 million Counter-UAS Grant Program to help state, local, tribal, and territorial governments acquire drone detection and mitigation technology.

• Eligible agencies can purchase fixed or mobile systems to identify and track hostile drones, though only federal authorities may intercept communications. All operators must complete FBI certification before deployment.

• The program prioritizes high-risk areas and upcoming national events—including America 250 and the 2028 Olympics—to enhance coordination and resilience against airborne threats.

⚙️ Army Brings 3D Metal Printing to the Frontline With New Cold-Spray Tech — Read More

• The U.S. Army demonstrated expeditionary 3D printing capabilities using “cold spray” additive manufacturing, allowing troops to produce metal parts and drone components on-site without supply-chain delays.

• Researchers from the University of Tennessee and the Army Research Laboratory showcased the process alongside machining and heat-treatment techniques developed with SPEE3D.

• The initiative, backed by a five-year partnership, aims to deploy mobile metal-printing units by 2026—empowering commanders to fabricate mission-critical hardware and sustain units directly in the field.

🌏 Other Important News

✈️ Air

• Pentagon’s B-21 Raider goes single-pilot, highlighting embedded AI co-pilot tech — Read More

• Marines fire entire command over Hawaii Osprey squadron mishaps — Read More

• Dutch “Hornet” system links multiple drones into a swarm defense platform — Read More

• Ukraine debuts VR-based simulator to train drone pilots — Read More

🌊 Maritime

• AUKUS nations finalize deal selecting AN/BYG-1 combat system for next-gen submarines — Read More

📄 Policy & Geopolitics

• Draft attendee list for Hegseth’s acquisition-reform speech shows major industry turnout — Read More

• Experts assess risks and rewards of Pentagon’s proposed acquisition reforms — Read More

• Moscow supplies Venezuela new air defenses, hints at possible missile deliveries — Read More

• India and Israel sign MoU to expand defense-technology cooperation — Read More

Thanks for reading today’s Defense Brief. If you found it useful, consider forwarding it to a friend or colleague who'd appreciate staying sharp on defense tech and military news.