European Space Agency Proposes €21 Bln Military Satellite Network

The European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing to launch an ambitious €21 billion project to establish a military-grade satellite reconnaissance network in collaboration with the European Union, according to ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher.

Speaking to *Euractiv*, a media outlet focused on EU affairs, Aschbacher explained that the war in Ukraine and rising geopolitical tensions with the United States have intensified the EU's focus on defense-related investments in space technology.

The proposal was presented during a high-level meeting of EU officials in Warsaw, where Aschbacher noted that the preliminary funding package — valued at approximately €21 billion — could still be adjusted based on further negotiations and assessments.

Although ESA is not formally a part of the European Union, it includes overlapping membership from EU countries as well as the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Ministers from ESA member states meet every three years to discuss funding for various scientific and exploratory programs.

During the agency’s last summit in Paris in 2022, European governments pledged a record €16.9 billion. Budget constraints had previously cast doubt on the possibility of an increased allocation for the next ministerial meeting scheduled for November 2025.

However, recent developments — including Elon Musk’s threat to restrict Ukraine’s access to the Starlink satellite network and shifting attitudes within the White House — have reshaped the debate, propelling military space assets to the forefront of European defense policy.

ESA’s proposed program includes a constellation of next-generation surveillance satellites capable of delivering ultra-high-resolution infrared imagery from any point on Earth every 20 to 30 minutes.

These images would be made available on demand to European militaries and governments, dramatically enhancing real-time situational awareness.

Several European companies have advocated for such a program, arguing that it could significantly boost the region’s space-tech startup ecosystem while reducing reliance on non-European satellite services.

Aschbacher described the initiative as a potential game-changer, emphasizing that neither the EU nor ESA currently possesses a comparable system. Both the United States and China, however, have made considerable advances in this area, underlining the strategic importance of keeping pace.