Read Full Report: Space Capabilities to Support Military Operations in the European Theatre by The International Institute for Strategic Studies (2025)
Key Insights
- Strategic Importance of Space: The war in Ukraine has demonstrated how critical space-based assets are for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and communications in modern conflicts.
- Vulnerability of Space Systems: Russia's cyberattack on Ukraine’s Viasat system showed how satellite networks can be disrupted, highlighting the need for redundancy and resilience in space capabilities.
- Growing National Military Space Programs: European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, and Sweden, are expanding their military space capabilities, but at different paces and levels of ambition.
- Intergovernmental Cooperation: The European Union and NATO have initiated joint space-related projects, but fragmented policies and competing national interests slow progress.
- Role of Commercial Providers: Companies like Starlink and Maxar played a vital role in Ukraine, prompting European countries to explore greater integration of private space services into military operations.
Summary
Across Europe, nations are accelerating their military space programs in response to emerging threats. France, Italy, Germany, and Sweden are investing heavily in space situational awareness, satellite constellations, and national defense space policies. However, despite these advancements, European nations struggle with policy fragmentation, making it difficult to build a unified space security framework. While the EU and NATO have made efforts to improve space-based cooperation, national priorities continue to limit progress in developing collective space defense initiatives.
Private commercial space assets are also increasingly integrated into military operations. Companies like Starlink and Maxar have played a significant role in providing satellite-based intelligence and secure communications during the Ukraine conflict. The involvement of private actors raises critical questions about the governance of military space capabilities and the extent to which governments should rely on commercial providers for national security.
Despite growing investments, Europe still faces regulatory and strategic gaps in space security. Compared to the United States, European countries lag behind in both capability development and coordination. Addressing these challenges will require more streamlined cooperation between nations, enhanced regulatory frameworks, and a stronger integration of private-sector innovations into national security strategies.