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BERLIN—Germany’s plan to spend about €35 billion ($40.4 billion) on military space has in effect spurred an industrial arms race, as suppliers seek partners to cash in on the potential financial windfall.
Two of Germany’s biggest defense companies, Rheinmetall and Airbus Defense & Space, used the ILA Berlin Air Show here on June 10 to unveil teams to pursue future satellite programs for Earth observation and other intelligence missions.
Rheinmetall is already on contract with Iceye to deliver a synthetic aperture radar satellite system for the German military that is due to reach initial operational capability this year and full capability late next year. The partners are now bringing in others to pursue further missions.
As the companies look to deliver thermal imaging and other capabilities, they have teamed with satellite bus maker Reflex Aerospace, infrared company Constellr, OroraTech, and geospatial intelligence provider LiveEO. But the system is open for others to join, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger told reporters.
One mission that may be added is signals intelligence capabilities, Iceye CEO Raval Modrzewski said. To expedite delivery to customers, the companies are keeping their existing efforts going, with a potential to work together on combining missions on future satellites, he noted.
Airbus announced it would be the prime contractor on a similar effort that includes Rhode & Schwarz, Constellr, Orbint and High Performance Space Structure System. The constellation would include Earth observation and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance elements.
The consortia were formed days after German satellite maker OHB and Helsing said they planned to develop a system pairing space-based Earth observation with tactical targeting capabilities.
The German government has put a premium on trying to assure it is largely reliant on homegrown solutions as part of its military space push.
“Together we can deliver a sovereign, end-to-end solution that no single company could offer alone,” Airbus Defense and Space CEO Mike Schöllhorn said in a statement. Papperger also stressed the national autonomy that his partners would provide, while noting the company would be open to others, including from the U.S., if that came with no strings attached.
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