📄Top Stories

The Pentagon’s efforts to enhance space and defense capabilities are in the spotlight today. A new cruise missile technology designed for stealth and survivability is a key focus. Meanwhile, increased attention is on scaling defense innovations and infrastructure to meet modern challenges.

📰Detailed Coverage

New Vertical Takeoff Missile Enhances Military Capabilities

Mach has announced a partnership with the Army laboratory to co-develop a new type of cruise missile known as the “Strategic Strike.” This missile is capable of vertical takeoffs, allowing it to launch from locations beyond enemy radar detection, thus improving survivability and reducing the risk to the launch teams. This development is part of a broader effort to enhance military capabilities with adaptive and advanced technology.

Technically, the “Strategic Strike” aims to offer strategic advantages through stealth, leveraging advancements in vertical takeoff technology. It signifies a shift towards more flexible deployment options for military personnel. These features align with our web app’s focus on real-time tactical tracking capabilities, providing users with cutting-edge data on such developments.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

Pentagon Faces Challenges in Scaling Innovation

The Reagan Institute’s 2025 scorecard highlights the Pentagon’s progress and ongoing struggles in fostering innovation among defense startups. While there has been considerable movement in engaging new companies, the report emphasizes the need for more effective scaling of innovations that can meet military requirements efficiently and coherently.

This situation reveals the tension faced by the Pentagon as it tries to incorporate cutting-edge technology from a diverse industrial base. It underscores the importance of strategic allocations and partnerships to bridge existing gaps, thereby ensuring technological advancements transition smoothly into operational successes.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

KEEL Expands Facilities to Meet Navy Demand

Navy contractor KEEL has allocated $70 million towards expanding its fabrication facilities, a move aimed at overcoming current capacity constraints in nuclear Navy shipbuilding. This investment highlights the increasing demand for advanced maritime capabilities and the corresponding need for infrastructure to support such development.

KEEL’s initiative will establish new facilities to handle the complex demands of modern naval construction. This expansion is indicative of broader trends in defense infrastructure and highlights the necessity for cutting-edge fabrication technologies.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

Air Force Explores Global Opportunities for New Helicopters

As testing continues on the MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopter, the Air Force has been receiving international inquiries about potential Foreign Military Sales (FMS). This helicopter represents a significant upgrade in terms of versatility and capability, capturing both domestic and international interest.

The MH-139 Grey Wolf is set to replace aging aircraft, providing enhanced range and payload capacity. The global interest reflects the helicopter’s perceived value in augmenting current air forces around the world, signaling the potential for a robust international presence.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: Cosmos 2232
• NORAD ID: 22321
• Launch Date: 1993-01-26
• Mission: Early warning
• Orbit: Inclination: 67.3762°, Period: 717.6 minutes, Eccentricity: 0.568916
• Operator: PVO
• Fun Fact: Cosmos 2232 is part of Russia’s Oko program, designed to provide early warnings of missile launches using its infrared detection capabilities.

Current TLE Data:

1 22321U 93006A   25060.84775883  .00000043  00000+0  00000+0 0  9996
2 22321  67.3762 209.9729 5689160 134.6051 289.0435  2.00816281234925

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track Cosmos 2232

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

March 5

• SpaceX Starship:
  • Flight 8 from SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA (23:30 UTC) Eighth test flight of the two-stage Starship launch vehicle.

March 6

• Arianespace Ariane 62:
  • CSO-3 from Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana (16:24 UTC) The CSO-3 satellite is a high-resolution optical imaging satellite for the French military, replacing the Helios 2 spy satellite series.

March 7

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 12-21 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (05:05 UTC) A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

March 8

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • SPHEREx & PUNCH from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (03:09 UTC) SPHEREx is an astrophysics mission to survey the sky in near-infrared light to answer cosmic questions and study the birth of the universe. PUNCH will focus on the Sun’s outer atmosphere and track solar eruptions.

March 9

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 12-16 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (13:13 UTC) A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

March 10

• Rocket Lab Electron:

  • The Lightning God Reigns (iQPS Launch 1) from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand (00:00 UTC) Synthetic aperture radar Earth observation satellite for Japanese Earth imaging company iQPS.

• SpaceX Falcon 9:

  • Transporter 13 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (06:39 UTC) Dedicated rideshare flight to a sun-synchronous orbit with dozens of small microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers.

March 12

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Crew-10 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA (23:48 UTC) SpaceX Crew-10 is the tenth crewed operational flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

March 15

• Gilmour Space Technologies Eris-1:
  • Maiden Flight from Bowen Orbital Spaceport (00:00 UTC) Maiden flight of Gilmour Space’s orbital launch vehicle Eris.

March 31

• Galactic Energy Ceres-1:
  • Unknown Payload from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (00:00 UTC) Details TBD.

Note: Launch dates and times are subject to change due to technical or weather considerations.