Defense Innovation

Colorado Springs – October 19, 2026 -- The Tech7 Company has won a Direct to Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract, facilitated by SpaceWERX, to develop the Proliferated LEO Agile Testbed Environment (PLATE) for the U.S. Space Force. Work under the award is scheduled to begin in October.

PLATE targets data pipelines never built for proliferated LEO volumes

The Space Force's shift to proliferated Low Earth Orbit (pLEO) constellations will put hundreds of distributed sensors online, each generating continuous, low-latency data streams that must be processed and acted on in near real time. Today's stove-piped, mission-specific data pipelines were not designed for that load, and PLATE is meant to close the gap.

SpaceWERX, the Space Force's innovation arm, awarded more than 300 contracts totaling $510 million in fiscal year 2025.

Waltham – October 14, 2026 -- Beacon Interactive Systems CEO and Co-founder ML Mackey has been named to the newly formed Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Statewide Advisory Council, the company announced.

Council forms under MSBDC's five-year strategic plan

The council brings together business, government, economic development and community leaders. It will advise MSBDC leadership on the emerging needs of small businesses, opportunities for collaboration and programs that support industry growth. Its work will guide the MSBDC's support for entrepreneurs and growing businesses across the Commonwealth.

Mackey said turning a promising idea into a sustainable business takes more than ingenuity, citing the need for guidance, connections and opportunities at each stage of growth. She pointed to the stage when new technologies move beyond the prototype into real-world use.

Tucson – – October 12, 2026 -- Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, completed three developmental tests of its Coyote Block 2C+RM interceptor upgrades, taking the program from concept to testing in 15 months. The company funded the test events itself.

Raytheon funds upgrades for an urgent joint U.S. military counter-drone mission

The tests support a joint U.S. military mission to counter evolving drone threats. The Block 2C+RM upgrade builds on current Coyote variants, which have intercepted hundreds of drones in combat.

Upgrade adds rocket motor, new seeker and new warhead

Block 2C+RM integrates a rocket motor for faster launch and flight. It also adds a new seeker and warhead designed to defeat all classes of current and emerging drone threats.