Theresa Hitchens
Breaking Defense
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Past articles by Theresa:
Victus Nox nails Space Force 24-hours-to-launch goal
"This mission highlights significant progress towards meeting emerging challenges in space,” said Lt. Col. MacKenzie Birchenough, materiel leader for SSC's Space Safari office. → Read More
DoD space protection strategy: resilience, defense, and offense by another name
The unclassified strategy communicates "our commitment to protect the Joint Force from adversary hostile uses of space," said DoD Space Policy czar John Plumb. → Read More
The new US-Bahrain security agreement is light on big changes, but could be a blueprint: Analysts
The Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement promotes deterrence and more military integration, but Bahrain likely wanted more, one analyst said. → Read More
GEOST sensors to detect interference will fly on SDA satellites
The company also is providing a ground system for the sensors that could provide data about interference threats to users across the Defense Department and Intelligence Community, said Josh Hartman of GEOST's parent firm. → Read More
Space Force 'actively' reviewing programs to potentially reduce secrecy: CSO Saltzman
Saltzman cautioned that the service is unlikely to "go from 'eat before reading' classification to unclassified." → Read More
Space Force prototypes new 'integrated' Deltas for readiness boost
The two new Integrated Mission Deltas will be responsible for all aspects of electronic warfare and positioning, navigation and timing. → Read More
US, allies struggle to find 'collaborative' space development projects
Air Marshall Harvey Smyth, UK Air and Space Commander, suggested that one way to move forward might be to find a mutually desired "capability set" and pursue it under a joint program along the lines of the F-35. → Read More
Boeing nabs DARPA contract for hypersonic interceptor testing
Under its Glide Breaker project, DARPA wants to develop a prototype kill vehicle to intercept incoming hypersonic vehicles in their glide phase, before they begin high-speed maneuvers. → Read More
As DoD readies new commercial space strategies, industry frets funding gap
When it comes to leveraging commercial space tech, one analyst said, "The old adage holds — show me your budget and I’ll show you your priorities." → Read More
Saudi Arabia takes command of 2 maritime task forces, months after detente with Iran
Both task forces are meant to boost security in the region, and one specifically patrols a key waterway that's been the site of what the US called Iranian maritime aggression. → Read More
Any Saudi-Israeli normalization requires clearing major security, defense roadblocks: Experts
This week senior US official Jake Sullivan said no announcement was "imminent," and experts told Breaking Defense several real obstacles remain in the diplomatic path. → Read More
As US-Japan ramp up joint plan, MDA's hypersonic interceptor development steps forward
Washington and Tokyo hope to nail down co-funding details for the Glide Phase Interceptor by next year, according to a Pentagon spokesperson. → Read More
Would US Marines on merchant ships be enough to deter Iran in the Gulf?
The threat from Iran helped drive the decision to send the USS Bataan Amphibious readiness Group and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the region earlier this year. → Read More
IARPA hopes new sensors, AI analysis can track tiny but 'mission-ending' space debris
IARPA hopes to transition the results of its debris detection and tracking research to the Space Force, NASA and other Defense Department and intelligence agencies. → Read More
Space on agenda for Biden's trilateral summit with S. Korea, Japan
The Defense Department in particular has been keen to build up military space ties with its allies and partners in Asia in the face of China's rapid buildup of its own space capabilities, including the development of technologies that could hold US and allied space assets at risk in a regional conflict. → Read More
Led by US, global spending on military space jumped to $54B in 2022: Space Foundation
The Space Report 2023 Q2 study estimates that US Defense Department classified and unclassified spending in 2022 hit almost $43 billion. → Read More
EXCLUSIVE: US says Iran’s claimed naval alliance with Saudi, Gulf nations ‘defies reason’
“It defies reason that Iran, the number one cause of regional instability, claims it wants to form a naval security alliance to protect the very waters it threatens,” US 5th Fleet spokesperson Cmdr. Tim Hawkins said. → Read More
DoD approves next step for GPI to defend against hypersonic missiles
"Industry has told us that they they think they can go faster, and we're hopeful that we can accelerate the program," said Laura DeSimone, Missile Defense Agency executive director. → Read More
Albedo catches Space Force eyes with ultra-high fidelity imagery from very low satellites
Under a new grant, the company will demonstrate to the Air Force's National Air and Space Intelligence Center its ability to take very high resolution images at night using a thermal infrared sensor. → Read More
Space Force wraps initial plan for building 'hybrid' commercial/military 'outernet'
"The outernet is the internet taken to space," Col. Eric Felt, of the Department of the Air Force's space acquisition office, said today. → Read More