Germany is accelerating plans to establish a new satellite communication system, aiming to reduce reliance on commercial providers like SpaceX’s Starlink. This strategic shift is outlined in a confidential foundational document underpinning the nation’s updated military strategy, first reported by Spiegel.
The core objective, as defined in the document, is to secure Germany’s “security and sovereignty in space”. While the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces, currently possesses a few communication satellites through the SATCOMBw system, its capacity is deemed insufficient for modern defense needs. The existing infrastructure primarily supported limited deployments in locations like Afghanistan and Mali, utilizing geostationary satellites. Military officials now consider this approach “largely obsolete” for comprehensive national and NATO defense.
To address this, a project is underway to develop a German equivalent to a low-earth orbit satellite constellation, effectively creating a “mini-Starlink” network. The initiative has received approval from defense leadership and is now considered feasible following recent adjustments to Germany’s fiscal rules that broadened exceptions for defense spending.
The proposal involves the deployment of approximately 300 small satellites into orbit over the coming years. A preliminary network is projected to be operational by 2029, with ongoing expansion anticipated thereafter. Military sources emphasize the criticality of such a system, stating that future battlefield operations will require rapid, real-time imagery for units-a capability that is deemed unattainable without dedicated satellite infrastructure.