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See us at Exposibram 2026 : The FORUM | Booth #3050
FORUM Briefing: The Commercial Space Reckoning
The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran didn’t just unfold on the ground and in the air. It played out in orbit, and the industry that built the commercial space ecosystem is now reckoning with what that means.
Operation Epic Fury exposed a set of hard truths that defense primes, satellite operators, and space technology companies have been quietly grappling with for years. Enemy forces used commercial satellite imagery to conduct pre-strike reconnaissance and post-strike damage assessment against U.S. bases across the Middle East. Commercial platforms originally built for agriculture, logistics, and financial services became targeting tools. Resilient low-earth-orbit communications constellations proved their value in a contested environment. And satellite imagery providers found themselves in the middle of active wartime decisions about what data to release and when, effectively drawing lines in a gray zone the industry has never had to navigate before.
The lessons of this conflict are still settling. This Defense News panel brings together senior leaders from the defense and commercial space industries to dig into what those lessons actually require in terms of architecture, investment, policy, and partnership.
The discussion will examine how the commercial space sector is adapting its role in national security, what responsible dual-use looks like when your earth observation platform is being used to paint targeting data on allied forces, how industry is engineering resilience into constellations that are now explicitly in the crosshairs, and what allied governments need from the private sector to maintain space-enabled advantage in the next conflict, not just this one.
This is not a theoretical conversation. The war already happened. The industry’s job now is to build the systems, norms, and partnerships that reflect what was learned.
Operation Epic Fury exposed a set of hard truths that defense primes, satellite operators, and space technology companies have been quietly grappling with for years. Enemy forces used commercial satellite imagery to conduct pre-strike reconnaissance and post-strike damage assessment against U.S. bases across the Middle East. Commercial platforms originally built for agriculture, logistics, and financial services became targeting tools. Resilient low-earth-orbit communications constellations proved their value in a contested environment. And satellite imagery providers found themselves in the middle of active wartime decisions about what data to release and when, effectively drawing lines in a gray zone the industry has never had to navigate before.
The lessons of this conflict are still settling. This Defense News panel brings together senior leaders from the defense and commercial space industries to dig into what those lessons actually require in terms of architecture, investment, policy, and partnership.
The discussion will examine how the commercial space sector is adapting its role in national security, what responsible dual-use looks like when your earth observation platform is being used to paint targeting data on allied forces, how industry is engineering resilience into constellations that are now explicitly in the crosshairs, and what allied governments need from the private sector to maintain space-enabled advantage in the next conflict, not just this one.
This is not a theoretical conversation. The war already happened. The industry’s job now is to build the systems, norms, and partnerships that reflect what was learned.
Presented By :
Jon Simkins, Editor-in-Chief| Defense News
Open To :
Open to all exhibitors and visitors.
Products & Services
The Partnership Chalet
Kallman Worldwide, Inc.
Whether you’re looking for a headquarters home-away-from-home, a haven for hospitality, or a discreet balance of both, Kallman’s fractional ownership model gives you the flexibility to buy just as much space as you need.
Private Meeting Rooms:
Includes a boardroom table with seating for 6-8 persons and lockable credenza.
Custom fit for you:
Meeting rooms can be customized to include adjoining rooms, private suite style or larger space as needed.
Dining Program:
The dining program on the upper floor offers six-to-eight person tables along with an allocated exterior four-person balcony table as well.
Private Meeting Rooms:
Includes a boardroom table with seating for 6-8 persons and lockable credenza.
Custom fit for you:
Meeting rooms can be customized to include adjoining rooms, private suite style or larger space as needed.
Dining Program:
The dining program on the upper floor offers six-to-eight person tables along with an allocated exterior four-person balcony table as well.
Kallman Creative Services
Kallman Worldwide, Inc.
Build Confidence from the ground up! Your partner for custom built exhibits - any trade show, anywhere in the world. From the initial brief to the last detail, our approach is simple: we’re hands-on partners and honest collaborators who listen, design, and build to your specifications — on strategy, on time, on budget.
Turn heads with a custom-built exhibit from Kallman Creative Services. Take pride in owning an event destination that stops visitors in their tracks and jump-starts sales conversations.
Custom Builds - Chalets - Pavilions - Corporate Events
Turn heads with a custom-built exhibit from Kallman Creative Services. Take pride in owning an event destination that stops visitors in their tracks and jump-starts sales conversations.
Custom Builds - Chalets - Pavilions - Corporate Events
Professional Staff
Kallman Worldwide, Inc.
Every Partnership Pavilion is staffed by an experienced event team. Whether it’s coordinating with the show organizer; providing technical support; assisting with contractors, catering, or translators; or tracking a shipment, Team Kallman will help.
Pavilion Special Events
Kallman Worldwide, Inc.
If it’s on our schedule, you’re invited. As an exhibitor in the Partnership Pavilion, in addition to official show events you also have exclusive access to official Pavilion events. Exhibitors benefit from exclusive access to the Partnership Pavilion events, including the official Pavilion Opening Ceremony and Ribbon-Cutting, off and on-site hospitality receptions, networking events, business and market insight briefings, and topical industry presentations.
Exhibitors Lounge
Kallman Worldwide, Inc.
“The Meeting Point” is a private lounge where exhibitors can meet with guests, take a break from the show floor, and connect with industry peers. The Kallman Café serves refreshments throughout the day, offers a place to charge your phone, and provides exclusive WiFi service.
The Partnership Pavilion
Kallman Worldwide, Inc.
At trade shows around the world, Kallman’s flagship service, the Partnership Pavilion, is America’s full-service, business-to-business headquarters; the on-site hub of the U.S. and Canadian export community. The Partnership Pavilion covers Aerospace; Defense; Maritime; Medical; Mining; Oil & Gas; and Food industries. The Pavilion presents the perfect platform for business, maximizing U.S. and Canadian exhibitor exposure and creating a networking forum.
Prime exhibit space & quality designs:
Built on the idea that an organized group of exhibitors is easier to find than stand-alone booths scattered throughout a show, the USA and Canada Partnership Pavilions always attracts a crowd.
Professional Amenities and Staff:
Every USA and Canada Partnership Pavilion is staffed by an experienced event team dedicated to your success. Whether you need a liaison to the organizers, tech support, a contractor, caterer, translator, printer, or help tracking down a shipment... we’re here to help.
Exclusive events and programs:
As an exhibitor you have exclusive access to all Partnership Pavilion events; including our Opening Ceremony and Ribbon-Cutting, off and on-site hospitality receptions, business and market insight briefings, and special presentations.
Prime exhibit space & quality designs:
Built on the idea that an organized group of exhibitors is easier to find than stand-alone booths scattered throughout a show, the USA and Canada Partnership Pavilions always attracts a crowd.
Professional Amenities and Staff:
Every USA and Canada Partnership Pavilion is staffed by an experienced event team dedicated to your success. Whether you need a liaison to the organizers, tech support, a contractor, caterer, translator, printer, or help tracking down a shipment... we’re here to help.
Exclusive events and programs:
As an exhibitor you have exclusive access to all Partnership Pavilion events; including our Opening Ceremony and Ribbon-Cutting, off and on-site hospitality receptions, business and market insight briefings, and special presentations.
People
Description
The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran didn’t just unfold on the ground and in the air. It played out in orbit, and the industry that built the commercial space ecosystem is now reckoning with what that means.
Operation Epic Fury exposed a set of hard truths that defense primes, satellite operators, and space technology companies have been quietly grappling with for years. Enemy forces used commercial satellite imagery to conduct pre-strike reconnaissance and post-strike damage assessment against U.S. bases across the Middle East. Commercial platforms originally built for agriculture, logistics, and financial services became targeting tools. Resilient low-earth-orbit communications constellations proved their value in a contested environment. And satellite imagery providers found themselves in the middle of active wartime decisions about what data to release and when, effectively drawing lines in a gray zone the industry has never had to navigate before.
The lessons of this conflict are still settling. This Defense News panel brings together senior leaders from the defense and commercial space industries to dig into what those lessons actually require in terms of architecture, investment, policy, and partnership.
The discussion will examine how the commercial space sector is adapting its role in national security, what responsible dual-use looks like when your earth observation platform is being used to paint targeting data on allied forces, how industry is engineering resilience into constellations that are now explicitly in the crosshairs, and what allied governments need from the private sector to maintain space-enabled advantage in the next conflict, not just this one.
This is not a theoretical conversation. The war already happened. The industry’s job now is to build the systems, norms, and partnerships that reflect what was learned.
Operation Epic Fury exposed a set of hard truths that defense primes, satellite operators, and space technology companies have been quietly grappling with for years. Enemy forces used commercial satellite imagery to conduct pre-strike reconnaissance and post-strike damage assessment against U.S. bases across the Middle East. Commercial platforms originally built for agriculture, logistics, and financial services became targeting tools. Resilient low-earth-orbit communications constellations proved their value in a contested environment. And satellite imagery providers found themselves in the middle of active wartime decisions about what data to release and when, effectively drawing lines in a gray zone the industry has never had to navigate before.
The lessons of this conflict are still settling. This Defense News panel brings together senior leaders from the defense and commercial space industries to dig into what those lessons actually require in terms of architecture, investment, policy, and partnership.
The discussion will examine how the commercial space sector is adapting its role in national security, what responsible dual-use looks like when your earth observation platform is being used to paint targeting data on allied forces, how industry is engineering resilience into constellations that are now explicitly in the crosshairs, and what allied governments need from the private sector to maintain space-enabled advantage in the next conflict, not just this one.
This is not a theoretical conversation. The war already happened. The industry’s job now is to build the systems, norms, and partnerships that reflect what was learned.
