On Tuesday, November 28th, Millennium Space Systems received approval from the U.S. Space Force to produce six satellites for a missile-sensor layer in medium Earth orbit (MEO). The satellites will be designed to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles. The company's proposal successfully passed a critical design review, and production is set to begin, with hardware delivery and launch scheduled for late 2026. The Space Force has allocated $500 million in fiscal year 2024 for the MEO missile warning and tracking layer. Space Systems Command plans to acquire up to 27 satellites for the MEO layer to enhance missile threat detection, including hypersonic glide vehicles. Millennium's digital engineering approach, utilizing advanced software models and simulations, played a crucial role in securing the production deal, demonstrating successful missile detection and tracking capabilities from the MEO orbital position.

On Wednesday, November 29th, Bulgaria announced intention to join 11 other European nations in the European Sky Shield initiative for air defense. The Bulgarian Council of Ministers approved a Memorandum of Understanding, enabling collaborative efforts with other nations to acquire, maintain, and deploy ground-based air defense systems. This initiative, which includes countries like Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Germany, aims to enhance Europe's unified defense architecture within the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defense System. To support this participation, Bulgaria's Ministry of Defense has allocated over BGN 28 million for the acquisition, modernization, maintenance, and repair of defense-related assets and infrastructure.

On Sunday, December 3rd, Yemen's Houthi rebels launched ballistic missiles at three commercial ships in the Red Sea, with a U.S. warship intercepting three drones during the attack. The U.S. military condemned the assaults, considering them a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security. The Houthis claimed responsibility for two of the attacks, and the U.S. implicated Iran in enabling these actions. The incident signifies an escalation in maritime attacks linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The U.S. military, including the USS Carney destroyer, was involved in repelling the attacks, with damage reported to one of the targeted vessels, Unity Explorer. The British military also reported an explosion near Yemen's Bab el-Mandeb Strait. In the broader context, tensions have been heightened due to Iran's nuclear program, and the U.S. has pledged to consider appropriate responses.

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