Germany passed its first national space security strategy, calling for the development of a “robust and deterrent” satellite infrastructure to guarantee orbital safety.
The new strategy laid out on Wednesday by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s cabinet focuses on joint projects with allies, expanded satellite networks and the promotion of “responsible state behavior” in space. It comes on the heels of a September announcement that the defense ministry would invest €35 billion ($40.5 billion) in space projects by 2030.
The aim is to become more independent and capable of acting in space together with European allies and other NATO member states, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters in Berlin.
“Space systems have become an integral part of our lives. A failure or disruption would have serious consequences for our security and our everyday lives,” Pistorius added. “We are already seeing, for example, that Russia regularly jams GPS signals in the Baltic Sea region.”
The security strategy sets the framework for how Germany can better protect and defend itself in space and make its satellite networks more resilient. The armed forces would be crucial to that effort, Pistorius said, and the country will establish a military satellite operations center in its armed forces’ space command.
Science Minister Dorothee Bar said Germany would also accelerate programs to deal with space debris and how to destroy asteroids threatening Earth.
Pistorius told a space industry congress in September that the €35 billion would be used to harden military space systems against disruptions and attacks. Germany will also discuss with allies the development of “offensive capabilities” in space, he said.
The strategy underlines the need for closer cooperation with allies on space launches. Although Europe has domestically developed boosters, including ArianeGroup rockets, it is far behind in terms of launch frequency and reliability, while the US and China dominate civil and military space exploration.
“Space is becoming militarized,” Pistorius said. “It’s about, ‘How do we protect our satellites in space from attacks by others?’ We must also develop deterrence and defense capabilities in space.”
(Reporting by Michael Nienaber)
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