BERLIN: Germany has unveiled its first national space security strategy, with Defence Minister Boris Pistorius vowing to expand military and civilian capabilities in orbit.
The strategy follows his recent announcement that the Armed Forces will spend EUR 35 billion on space defences by 2030, citing growing threats from Russia and China.
Pistorius stated that both nations are “heavily involved” in space and “positioning themselves to influence other satellites” from Europe and the United States.
He acknowledged that “Germany alone will not keep pace with Russia and China,” but said European NATO countries can work together “to ensure that we remain capable of action and defence”.
The German initiative aligns with broader European efforts to achieve greater independence in space.
The multinational European Space Agency plans to launch an internet satellite constellation called IRIS2 by 2030.
In October, three major European aerospace firms announced plans to merge their satellite operations to create a credible rival to Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Starlink.
Pistorius highlighted a cyberattack against satellites during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that caused several hundred German wind turbines to fail.
“Everyone can imagine what an effective strike in space could do to satellite systems—it would paralyse entire countries,” he said.
The minister vowed that Germany would “not pursue an offensive strategy in space,” but stressed the necessity of counterstrike capabilities.
According to a press release, Germany aims for “peaceful, sustainable and rules-based” use of space to “prevent an arms race”.
Space and Research Minister Dorothee Baer said the strategy also includes asteroid defence programmes and efforts to address space debris.
