Germany unveils lasers plan to counter Russia and China threats
Inside Germany’s €35bn plan to defend itself from space
- Germany is set to invest €35 billion (£30 billion) in its military space capabilities, including spy satellites, spaceplanes, and offensive lasers.
- This ambitious spending plan aims to counter escalating orbital threats from Russia and China, according to Major General Michael Traut, head of the German Space Command.
- Germany intends to construct an encrypted military constellation of over 100 satellites, known as SATCOM Stage 4, emulating the US Space Development Agency model.
- Funding will be channelled into intelligence-gathering satellites, sensors, and systems designed to disrupt adversary spacecraft, including lasers and equipment capable of targeting ground-based infrastructure.
- Major General Traut emphasised that Germany will not field destructive weapons in orbit that could generate debris, but will utilise non-kinetic options such as jamming, lasers, and inspector satellites.
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