A new German launchpad could cut reliance on foreign spaceports and speed military satellite deployment. Officials say multiple local sites would reduce strategic delays.
The German Ministry of Defence is considering establishing its own launch site for sending satellites into orbit.
During a visit to Isar Aerospace, the German rocket startup in Ottobrunn near Munich, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius spoke about strengthening the national launch infrastructure.
Context and objectives of space launch deployments
According to Pistorius, to reduce the risks of dependence on external sites, strategic diversification of launch sites is needed so the country can act quickly and autonomously in space operations.
We are also considering establishing the Bundeswehr’s own launch site
– Boris Pistorius
He explained that Germany needs a set of accessible locations for launches to reduce dependence on foreign sites and ensure rapid response when needed.
The statement also stressed that to reduce risks it is wise to have a pool of launch options rather than relying on long time lags – five, six or seven years.
He noted that launches from Andøya spaceport on the Norwegian island and Saxa Vord in the United Kingdom will not be able to meet future needs. Germany is actively working to expand launch capabilities in collaboration with Norway and Canada.
Pistorius underscored the importance of satellites for reconnaissance, secure communications, and battlefield decision-making, noting that space-based reconnaissance should provide fast and increasingly timely decisions.
We need satellite-based reconnaissance for fast and ever-faster decisions on the battlefield
– Boris Pistorius
According to the minister, in the coming years the Bundeswehr plans to put a large number of satellites into space. Along with heavy launch vehicles such as Ariane 6, it will also be necessary to employ small launch vehicles, notably Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum, to ensure fast and efficient space operations.
In 2027, Germany plans to launch military satellites with so-called offensive capabilities, which could, among other things, hinder other spacecraft.
Thus, the consideration of creating its own space launch site reflects Germany’s aim to strengthen autonomy and operational capability in space operations, as well as expand capabilities within joint projects with partners.