Jens Plötner also indicated that Europe’s opponents might already be conducting operations to undermine the bloc’s space assets as preparation for a potential future conflict.
German State Secretary for Defence, Jens Plötner, described Chinese operations aimed at destabilising European space assets as akin to a «dogfight,» signaling a «new reality» that Europe urgently must brace for.
«Both Russia and China are advancing, testing, and in certain instances actively deploying counterspace technologies,» Plötner alerted during his keynote at the European Space Conference in Brussels. «These technologies aim to deny, degrade, disrupt, deceive, or destroy space-based infrastructure.»
«Currently, European space assets, including those of Germany, frequently face intentional interference. Such incidents are observed nearly every day. Chinese satellites, as an example, are performing highly maneuverable and intricate orbital maneuvers which can be described accurately as dogfights occurring in space.»
Before the decade concludes, the EU is accelerating efforts to reinforce its defense stance to deter a potential Russian aggression, with space capabilities becoming pivotal—especially regarding intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and rapid, secure communications.
The European Commission has classified strategic enablers, which encompass space assets, as a priority investment area, urging member states to synchronize their rearmament initiatives to prevent redundancy and address critical capability shortages more efficiently.
Plötner, highlighting Germany’s €500 billion rearmament plan—which allocates €35 billion exclusively toward military space capabilities by 2030—emphasized that adversaries recognize space-based defense as a decisive factor in warfare and consequently a «critical vulnerability.»
«It is prudent to expect that attacks targeting our space infrastructure would arise very early in any future conflict and that components of such hostile actions might already be active today, as part of a hybrid warfare strategy,» he stated.
«Whether it is welcome or not, this new reality must be acknowledged and adequately prepared for.»
He urged EU member states to pool their resources and strengthen cooperation with trusted allies, including the United States, as well as within the framework of NATO.
«While demand for satellite imagery among EU members is rising, only a handful operate the requisite systems. By linking national and commercial assets into a virtual constellation, collective security requirements can be met far more effectively,» Plötner noted, referencing a collaborative program involving France, Finland, Sweden, and Spain aimed at developing a global sensor network for space situational awareness.
Parallel initiatives are already in progress. The European Commission for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, announced on Tuesday that through the sharing of eight satellites owned by five nations, all 27 EU members now enjoy access to secure, encrypted satellite communications.
Plötner’s remarks followed shortly after France’s Minister for Space called on Europe to adopt a «100% European preference» for space defense assets, citing the unpredictability of Europe’s «first strong ally» as a key concern.
In November, the French government disclosed that Russia had launched a nuclear-armed anti-satellite weapon into orbit under a program termed Sputnik S.