According to a recent video analysis released by The Economist on December 29, 2025, the world is rapidly moving towards a new strategic phase. Entering 2026, space will no longer be merely infrastructure for communication, navigation, and observation, but will be formally recognized by military planners worldwide as one of the core arenas of future warfare. Among these developments, several space-related stocks associated with Musk's SpaceX may become key areas of focus.
The nature of warfare has shifted to space, and orbital capabilities have become the key to victory.
The Economist points out that the United States has formally incorporated space into its core concepts for future warfare in its military planning. Assuming a future conflict with Russia or China, the US believes that the ability to maintain operational capabilities in space will be a decisive factor in determining the outcome of the conflict.
This includes not only protecting one's own satellites, but also the ability to counter adversaries' space devices when necessary. It further states that the key to future warfare will no longer be limited to land, sea, and air, but will extend further into Earth orbit.
Under this strategic thinking, US President Trump has requested a 40% budget increase for the US Space Force in the next fiscal year, with Space Force generals leading the development of the "Golden Dome" missile defense system. This plan envisions deploying interceptors in space, primarily designed to intercept enemy missiles in their initial launch phase. The Economist also points out that while officially positioned for defensive purposes, from a technical standpoint, such systems theoretically possess the potential to attack enemy satellites.
The militarization of space is escalating across the board, with rules and risks emerging simultaneously.
The video also mentions that SpaceX's Starship rocket has been incorporated into the US military's space strategy, becoming one of its key strategic assets. In the event of a future conflict that results in the loss of a large number of US satellites, Starship, with its rapid relaunch capability, could theoretically be used to quickly fill the satellite gaps and maintain the operation of space systems.
SpaceX has been assigned to handle most of the U.S. national security-level launches in 2026, including spy satellites, and related deployments continue to move forward.
The Economist points out that the militarization of space is not a unilateral action by the United States. The United Kingdom has stated that it will build "counter-space capabilities" capable of attacking or interfering with satellites, and France has also cooperated with the United States to conduct close-range operations, approaching a satellite suspected to belong to Russia.
China's satellite launches have increased eightfold since 2015, and its recent space operations continue to draw Western attention. The film concludes by mentioning suspicions that Russia is developing a space-based nuclear weapon capable of destroying a large number of satellites in low Earth orbit at once, a clear violation of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, making 2026 a year in which space rules may face significant challenges.
(Musk confirms: SpaceX could go public as early as 2026; AI and space data centers will be key)
Three Space Concept Stocks to Watch
1. AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS): SpaceX satellite launch partner
AST SpaceMobile saw a turning point in 2025, with its stock price surging more than 430% throughout the year, boosted by successful satellite deployment and telecommunications partnerships, pushing its market capitalization above $26 billion.
Financially, with the commissioning of next-generation satellites, third-quarter revenue doubled to $14.7 million. Despite losses due to R&D and high launch costs, the company has $1.2 billion in cash on hand. At its core launch end, ATS relies heavily on Musk's SpaceX as its launch partner, ensuring a high-frequency launch schedule of once every one to two months via the Falcon 9 rocket, officially moving from the R&D stage to commercial-scale expansion.
2. EchoStar (NASDAQ: SATS): SpaceX's spectrum asset partner
EchoStar entered a critical period of financial turnaround in 2025, with its stock price surging by approximately 650% throughout the year, driven by successful debt restructuring and asset monetization. Financially, third-quarter revenue reached $3.82 billion. Although losses persisted due to 5G construction costs and user churn, the balance sheet has significantly improved.
In terms of strategic cooperation, EchoStar has established a deep business connection with Musk's SpaceX through its spectrum assets. The two parties have reached a substantial deal on communication spectrum sharing and space communication deployment, enabling EchoStar to transform from a traditional satellite operator into a core player in the integration of space and 5G.
(Note: Spectrum assets refer to the rights granted by the government to enterprises to use radio frequencies in specific regions and periods. They are intangible assets with scarcity and economic value, supporting wireless services such as mobile communications and satellite communications. Due to their limited resources and irreproducibility, they have become key core assets in the telecommunications and space communications industries.)
3. STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM, US ADR): A core supply chain partner of SpaceX Starlink.
STMicroelectronics (STM) demonstrated remarkable resilience in 2025. Although affected by the downturn in the automotive and industrial semiconductor cycles, its annual revenue fell to US$11.75 billion and its stock price fluctuated, the company established its dominant position in the space communications field.
As a core chip supplier for SpaceX Starlink, STMicroelectronics reached the milestone of shipping 5 billion satellite antenna chips by the end of 2025, with the CEO personally confirming the decade-long deep collaboration between the two companies. With the surge in Starlink's global users and the deployment of next-generation satellites, this solid long-term mass production contract has become a key pillar for STMicroelectronics to resist cyclical fluctuations and shift towards the high-margin satellite market.
This article, titled "The Space Race Heats Up in 2026: A Look at Three Musk SpaceX Space Concept Stocks," first appeared on ABMedia ABMedia .
