Published by First Post, 28 November 2025

Europe is advancing a military-grade “system of systems” in space, pooling national satellites to build a secure surveillance and intelligence network to boost defence autonomy amid rising geopolitical threats.

European nations are now seeking to pool their national space assets to build a new, military-grade surveillance and communications network,  a “system of systems” designed to deliver integrated, secure space-based intelligence and defence capabilities. This strategic shift reflects growing concern over global geopolitical instability and a drive for European autonomy in security and defence.

European nations agree 30% boost in space budget

European nations agreed on Thursday to increase spending on space over the next three years by about 30% to 22.1 billion euros, part of an effort to try to catch up to the US, China and private firms zooming ahead in the space race.

The European Space Agency had asked its 23 nations to provide some 22 billion euros to fund launches, satellites and other research programmes for the next three years, up from 16.9 billion in 2023-2025.

Pooling space assets for collective defence

According to a recent report in the Financial Times, the European project aims to fund and deploy a constellation of satellites and support systems, operated collectively by participating nations. Rather than each country working separately, Europe intends to integrate reconnaissance, communications, and surveillance satellites into a unified network,  enabling real-time intelligence sharing, secure communications, and coordinated monitoring of terrestrial and maritime zones.

The idea is to shift from fragmented national programmes to a collective, interoperable architecture, a “system of systems” that leverages the strengths of each national space asset, while minimising duplication and maximising resilience in the face of threats.

See: Original Article

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