German minister warns against unacceptable delays to 10 billion euro satellite project

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BERLIN, July 14 : German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Tuesday urged timetable and budget discipline for a planned military satellite project valued at 10 billion euros ($11.45 billion), saying delays were unacceptable given current threats to security.

"We cannot afford delays in these times," Pistorius said during a visit to satellite maker OHB in Bremen.

Germany's armed forces are expected to award contracts for the project - dubbed SATCOMBw4 - around the end of 2026.

Designed to give the Bundeswehr sovereign space-based communications capability similar to SpaceX's Starlink network, the project is expected to involve about 200 satellites, with an initial fleet of roughly 40 that could enter service from 2029.

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"The Bundeswehr needs these capabilities," Pistorius said, citing requirements for early warning, reconnaissance, detection and communications in space.

The system would enable autonomous global command-and-control capabilities and help Germany meet its NATO commitments, he added.

OHB is working with Rheinmetall and, according to government and industry sources, Airbus Defence on the project. Concerns have been raised that the consortium structure could limit price competition.

Pistorius warned that threats to satellites were already a reality, saying countries were investing heavily in offensive counter-space capabilities.

Germany plans to invest a total of 35 billion euros in space security by 2030, he added.

($1 = 0.8734 euros)

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