The German Bundeswehr (armed forces) plays an increasing role in the space industry, primarily focused on national security and defense. As a governmental organization, it is developing its capabilities for space situational awareness, satellite communication, and reconnaissance. The Bundeswehr operates the Space Component Command (SpCC) and the German Space Situational Awareness Centre. To enhance its capabilities, the Bundeswehr partners with companies like Airbus and Indra and aims to establish its own satellite constellation by 2029. Key activities include space operations planning, deployment/protection of space systems, and collaboration within initiatives like Combined Space Operations (CSpO).
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
SATCOM Stage 4 will use a proliferated LEO (pLEO) architecture rather than geostationary orbits used by previous German military satellites.
The Bundeswehr’s 2024 Defence Scientific Research report indicates that funding for the full-sized spaceplane is largely expected to come from private investment while the Bundeswehr can make a significant contribution as a potential anchor customer.
The Bundeswehr’s 2024 Defence Scientific Research report states that the first test of POLARIS’s full-sized spaceplane, likely referring to AURORA, was planned for 2028 provided the necessary funds can be made available.
The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) awarded POLARIS Spaceplanes a contract on 27 January to build and flight test a fully reusable, horizontal take-off, two-stage hypersonic vehicle.
A separate contract with the German armed forces funded development of an in-air refuelling system for POLARIS vehicles.
The contract provides ICEYE and Rheinmetall with exclusive access to a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation for the German Armed Forces.
The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) awarded a €1.7 billion contract to ICEYE and Rheinmetall to supply space-based reconnaissance data.
La Oficina Federal de Equipamiento, Tecnología de la Información y Apoyo en Servicio de la Bundeswehr (BaainBw) ha encargado a Rheinmetall Iceye Space Solutions el suministro de datos de reconocimiento espacial a las Fuerzas Armadas alemanas.
The contract with the Bundeswehr includes options to extend its scope into the new decade.
SpaceFounders was launched in 2025 as a joint initiative by ASI, CNES, and the Bundeswehr University of Munich.
Under the contract, Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions will provide the Bundeswehr with a very high number of images per day through the end of 2030.
Rheinmetall and ICEYE received a contract to provide space-based reconnaissance data to the German Federal Armed Forces on December 18, 2025.
Rheinmetall's digital systems will ensure that radar images are readily available to Bundeswehr operators on the ground.
The German Armed Forces awarded a €1.7 billion contract to Rheinmetall and ICEYE for the delivery of space-based reconnaissance data.
Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions closed a five-year, €1.7 billion contract with the German Bundeswehr to supply SAR data from a new sovereign-built constellation.
The German Armed Forces awarded a contract valued at approximately 1.7 billion euro ($2 billion) to a joint venture between Rheinmetall and Iceye.
GENA-OT carries multiple payloads from the Universitat der Bundeswehr Munich and partner organizations, including elements of the SeRANIS project and contributions from the Munich Center for Space Communications.
The scientific projects on GENA-OT were built by Universität der Bundeswehr Munich (UniBw) and other contributors.
Rohde & Schwarz has acquired a stake in Orbint GmbH, a spin-off from the University of the Bundeswehr Munich.
Orbint GmbH was founded in 2025 by four research assistants from the University of the Bundeswehr Munich: Alexander Schmidt, Simon Heine, Daniel Weinzierl, and Winfried Stock.