SpinLaunch Introduces Meridian Defense, a Purpose-Built LEO Constellation for Secure and Sovereign Communications

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LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 23, 2026--

SpinLaunch today announced Meridian Defense, a purpose-built proliferated Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation with integrated inter-satellite links (ISL), designed to meet the evolving needs of defense and government customers for secure, resilient, and sovereign communications infrastructure.

Meridian Defense builds on the core technology of SpinLaunch’s Meridian constellation, leveraging the same breakthrough advances in satellite design, orbital architecture, and system efficiency. The result is a fundamentally different approach to defense communications - one that combines high performance with significantly lower cost and faster deployment timelines.

As governments increasingly prioritize sovereignty, security, operational agility, and resilience in space-based communications, Meridian Defense is designed to provide greater control over data, infrastructure, and operations, while reducing reliance on complex and geographically distributed ground networks.

The system architecture enables secure, end-to-end communications across global theaters by routing data through space, reducing reliance on ground relay points and improving resilience in contested and denied environments. Combined with a simplified ground segment and scalable deployment model, Meridian Defense delivers operational flexibility and mission assurance.

“Governments are looking for more than just capacity - they are looking for control, resilience, and the ability to deploy systems on their own terms, in contested environments,” said Massi Ladovaz, CEO of SpinLaunch. “Meridian Defense is a direct response to those needs. It builds on the same core foundations as Meridian, but is purpose-built as a defense system, allowing us to deliver secure, high-performance communications at a fraction of the cost, timeline, and complexity of traditional architectures.”

“Designing for defense means assuring communications access to users in physically and electromagnetically challenged environments, while remaining cost-effective as a key element of a diverse network strategy,” said Peter Hadinger, Board Advisor at SpinLaunch and former President, U.S. Government and Chief Technology Officer at Inmarsat. “Meridian Defense is being designed to provide governments with an independent and trusted national system that their mission-critical users can depend upon.”

Meridian Defense is designed to support a range of mission-critical applications, including secure communications, tactical connectivity, and resilient network operations in contested environments. Its architecture is inherently adaptable, enabling governments to deploy systems aligned with national security requirements and evolving operational needs.

SpinLaunch is actively engaging with government and defense stakeholders globally to further define deployment models and mission profiles for Meridian Defense.

For more information, visit: www.spinlaunch.com/meridiandefense.

About SpinLaunch

SpinLaunch is a space technology company revolutionizing how we access and operate in space. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Long Beach, California, the company has demonstrated a fundamentally new approach to launch and satellite communications. In 2025, SpinLaunch introduced Meridian Space, a next-generation technology platform designed to dramatically lower the cost and complexity of deploying satellite infrastructure. SpinLaunch is building the foundational technologies for a new era of scalable, affordable space access and connectivity. Learn more at www.spinlaunch.com.

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KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CALIFORNIA

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: DATA MANAGEMENT AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING SECURITY SATELLITE TELECOMMUNICATIONS GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY OTHER DEFENSE DEFENSE HARDWARE

SOURCE: SpinLaunch

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PUB: 03/23/2026 10:40 AM/DISC: 03/23/2026 10:40 AM

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260323395069/en