Space Force orders two more GPS satellites from Lockheed Martin for $514 million

The U.S. Space Force awarded Lockheed Martin $514 million for GPS 3F satellites 23 and 24, extending the program to 14 spacecraft under contract. SpaceNews says the GPS 3F line is designed to improve resilience against jamming and other electronic threats while adding upgraded civilian signals and digital payload features. The order underscores how military PNT infrastructure remains a priority even as Washington pushes for more survivable space architectures. It also gives Lockheed more backlog in one of the Pentagon’s most durable space procurement lines.

Over 200 state lawmakers urge Congress to oppose AI preemption in House proposal

More than 200 state lawmakers urged Congress to reject a House proposal that would preempt some state artificial-intelligence regulations for three years. The Hill says the letter argues the measure would undercut state efforts to address harms affecting children, creators and workers. The push adds another layer to a Washington fight over how quickly Congress should centralize AI policy and how much room states should retain to regulate.

Trump: Iran deal can survive if fighting in Lebanon continues

President Trump said a U.S.-Iran deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could survive even if Israel’s military actions in Lebanon continue. The Hill reports he made the remarks from the G7 while defending the durability of the agreement despite wider regional instability. The statement ties a major foreign-policy development directly to ongoing political messaging from the White House as markets and lawmakers watch the fallout.

Geospatial industry launches maritime initiative

The U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation and SynMax are standing up a maritime-intelligence working group to pull in satellite operators, analytics firms, government agencies and academia. SpaceNews says the effort is aimed at a fast-growing market for maritime domain awareness, including illegal fishing, sanctions evasion, commercial shipping and naval monitoring. The move signals continued commercial investment in geospatial products with both defense and logistics demand behind them.

Gilat to buy Comtech satcoms business six years after failed merger

Gilat Satellite Networks agreed to buy most of Comtech’s space-related communications business for $157.5 million in cash. SpaceNews says the package includes satellite ground infrastructure, troposcatter systems and related engineering assets that would deepen Gilat’s defense communications portfolio. The transaction revives a relationship that once pointed the other direction, after Comtech’s planned acquisition of Gilat fell apart during the pandemic.

DARPA to explore ways to rapidly rebuild satellite networks if attacked

DARPA issued a request for information on how to restore degraded space capabilities within hours to weeks after attacks or major disruptions. SpaceNews says the effort is focused on reconstituting satellite services after anti-satellite strikes, cyberattacks, debris events or similar shocks. The initiative shows how seriously U.S. defense planners are treating the possibility of fighting through losses in orbit instead of assuming uninterrupted access.

U.K. Forces Seize Russian Shadow Tanker in English Channel

U.K. forces boarded and seized a Russian shadow-fleet tanker in the English Channel, the first such interdiction since London expanded military authority to stop and inspect those ships. USNI News reports Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency officers carried out a six-hour operation against MT Smyrtos. The seizure highlights how maritime enforcement around sanctions and Russian logistics is becoming more operationally assertive.