35 billion for German security in space
Defence Minister Pistorius announces large investments in space projects to promote security at the space congress in Berlin.
Berlin (dpa) – Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced the Federal Government’s plans to make 35 billion euros available for space projects and a security architecture in outer space over the next five years. At the BDI Space Congress in Berlin, Mr Pistorius promised a comprehensive package that would “ensure protection and effectiveness in equal measures”.
Regarding the aim of the programme, he spoke of a resilient structure of satellite constellations, ground stations, reliable space launch capacities and the corresponding services. “We are hardening our systems against disruptions and attacks. This explicitly includes cyber security for all space systems,” Pistorius stated.
The minister also called for offensive capabilities to be discussed. This term is used to describe systems that allow for military action in space in case of an emergency as well as the ability to attack. “We must also be able to deter in space in order to be defensible,” Pistorius stated.
He added that Germany also needed reliable capacities for transport into space: “We are relying on a mixture here: small carrier rockets for flexible launches, but in the medium term there should also be European heavy-lift vehicles that should be developed competitively, and most of all must be able to compete.”