SatNews and SpaceNews Partner to Launch EU Space Defence Track at SmallSat Europe 2026

Washington, D.C and Sonoma, Calif. – September 25 – SatNews, the team behind Silicon Valley Space Week, the SmallSat Symposium, and SmallSat Europe, which together welcome more than 3,500 attendees annually, today announced a new partnership with SpaceNews to debut the EU Space Defence Track at the second annual SmallSat Europe, taking place May 26–28, 2026, in Amsterdam.

With SatNews’s decades of event leadership and SpaceNews’s editorial expertise, this partnership will bring together industry, government and defence leaders to explore the evolving role of satellites and space systems in Europe.

The EU Space Defence Track will highlight topics such as:

• Lessons from Ukraine on rapid procurement, commercial integration, and coalition operations
• Nurturing startups and dual-use innovation for European defence needs
• Protected communications, missile defence, and resilient architectures for a contested space environment
• The future of European launch for secure access to space
• Leveraging commercial imagery, ISR, and AI for military advantage
• Aligning ambitions with budgets: the future of EU and NATO space defence strategy

“SmallSat Europe is quickly becoming a cornerstone event for the global satellite community,” said Silvano Payne, CEO of SatNews. “With defence and security at the forefront of international cooperation and competition, the EU Space Defence track, powered by our collaboration with SpaceNews, will provide the conversations and connections needed to advance shared goals.”

Building on its successful launch year, SmallSat Europe will expand its program in 2026 with more sessions, broader industry participation and an expected increase in both exhibitors and attendees.

“As a leading source for space industry news worldwide, SpaceNews is expanding our presence in Europe to cover the issues that matter most to industry and government alike. We look forward to partnering with SatNews on this important initiative and seeing everyone in Amsterdam in May 2026,” said Paige McCullough, president of SpaceNews.

Mike Gruss, SpaceNews’ chief content and strategy officer, added, “Our team’s unique ability to analyze the complex dynamics facing the international community, coupled with our global audience reach, makes us uniquely qualified to help shape the defence program at SmallSat Europe.”

Together, SatNews and SpaceNews are committed to making the EU Space Defence track a focal point of SmallSat Europe, ensuring that Europe’s role in space security is addressed with the depth and urgency it deserves.

About SatNews
SatNews is a global leader in satellite industry news and events, producing the annual SmallSat Symposium, Satellite Innovation Symposium, MilSat Symposium and SmallSat Europe. With a reputation for convening global stakeholders, SatNews delivers impactful events and resources that serve the rapidly evolving satellite ecosystem.

Silicon Valley Space Week – October 28-30 2025 Silicon Valley CA https://svsw.events 
SmallSat Symposium – February 10-12 2026 Silicon Valley CA https://smallsatshow.com
SmallSat Europe – May 26-28 2026 Amsterdam NL https://smallsateurope.com 

About SpaceNews
SpaceNews has been a global leader in space industry reporting for more than 35 years. With robust readership and a trusted reputation for editorial excellence, SpaceNews covers the business, policy, technology, and defense aspects of the space sector worldwide. www.spacenews.com

Media Contact
Teresa Sanderson, Director of Operations SatNews, Teresa@satnews.com
Paige McCullough, President, SpaceNews, pmccullough@spacenews.com