🌌 Space and Defense #3

Happy Monday 👋

Several major countries within APAC are exploring several defense partnerships. Australia and the U.S. are boosting air and missile defense collaboration. Japan and Mongolia are finalizing a treaty for defense equipment exports, while India and Vietnam are strengthening ties with a $300M maritime security credit, and Brazil is exploring a defense partnership with India. The Pentagon allocated nearly $1B for the Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC), and Northrop Grumman introduced the Cannon-Based Air Defense (CBAD) system. Anduril Industries plans a $1.5B munitions facility. SEOPS will integrate payloads for the 2024-Blaze mission, and AST SpaceMobile received a license for its first five BlueBird satellites. Perceptive Space advances space weather forecasts with AI. This week’s financial deals include Deep Blue’s $140M for rockets, Email Security’s $250M Series B round, and EQT’s planned Acronis acquisition.

🤝 National Defense Collaborations

⚔️ Australia and the U.S. have pledged to enhance cooperation on air and missile defense efforts. The talks, part of the AUSMIN consultations, aim to deepen defense ties, focusing on force posture, defense industrial base integration, and advanced capabilities collaboration.

🗡️ Japan and Mongolia discussed a treaty allowing mutual defense equipment exports. During a mid-August summit Japan mentioned it aims to sign the agreement this fall to bolster security ties and boost investment.

✅ India deepens defense partnerships. India and Vietnam enhanced military ties with a $300M maritime security credit and prior aid. Brazil seeks to co-produce the Embraer C-390 with India and discuss BrahMos and Akash systems, strengthening defense collaboration.

🛡️ Defense Tech

☁️ The Pentagon awarded nearly $1B in task orders. This is for its Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC), a key part of digital modernization and CJADC2, involving Google, Oracle, AWS, and Microsoft contracts.

🛳️ Northrop Grumman has introduced the Cannon-Based Air Defense (CBAD) system. This is a cost-effective, scalable defense against large-scale aerial threats like cruise missiles and UAS, integrating Bushmaster Chain Guns, sensors, and advanced ammunition.

🎛️ Anduril Industries plans to increase munitions and sensor production with a $1.5B funding. Focusing on Arsenal-1, a 5 million ft² facility will produce autonomous military systems annually, using commercially available components.

🪐 Space

🚀 SEOPS has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command. They will integrate six payloads for the 2024-Blaze mission, showcasing their expertise in solving complex launch challenges for commercial and military clients.

📱 The FCC granted AST SpaceMobile a license to launch and operate its first five BlueBird satellites for V-band, S-band, and UHF frequencies. The approval deferred for terrestrial spectrum use and a full constellation of 243 satellites, aiming to provide broadband directly to cell phones from space.

📡 Canadian startup Perceptive Space, funded by $2.8M. It aims to enhance space weather forecasting using AI and machine learning. Offering subscription-based forecasts, the company aims to provide near-real-time updates, addressing outdated government models.

💰 Deals of the Week

🔫 Anduril, a defense startup, has raised $1.5B in venture funding to produce AI-powered weapons and autonomous drones for the battlefield.

💰 Email Security, a cybersecurity company, announced that it has raised $250M in a Series D funding round that values the firm at $5.1B.

🚀 Deep Blue, a Chinese company developing reusable rockets, has raised almost $140M in a Series B funding round. It will set up its manufacturing facility in the Wuxi National Hi-Tech District.

🔒 EQT, a private equity firm, is planning to acquire a majority stake in Acronis, the cybersecurity company, to support our strategic expansion and share our vision for growth.

Thank you for reading. Have a great week ahead!
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