Germany German industry calls for more money for space armaments
In view of increasing international tensions, the German aerospace industry has demanded more money for military space travel from the German government. It fears that European space armaments are falling behind.
13.02.2025, 05:25
SDA
Germany and Europe are "dependent on a competitive infrastructure in space", said Marie-Christine von Hahn, Managing Director of the German Aerospace Industries Association BDLI, at the Munich Security Conference. "If politicians miss this, our sovereignty and our position in the world will be at stake," Hahn is quoted as saying in an association press release.
Unspoken concern about Trump
In Europe's industry and politics, it is expected that US President Donald Trump could exert great political pressure on the European NATO states to buy weapons from American manufacturers. The aerospace association does not explicitly mention this in its communication. Trump has already called on the Europeans to increase their defense spending to five percent of their respective national gross domestic product.
According to figures from the German association, the USA launched more than half of the 220 civilian and military launch vehicles with satellites and other payloads on board last year, while China launched 67, Russia 20 and India 7. Europe brought up the rear with 4 rocket launches.
"Independently involved in reconnaissance and defense in space"
"Germany and Europe's space industry can easily keep up technologically," said Hahn. "However, we must now make sure that we are also an independent player in reconnaissance and defense in space."
According to its own information, the German Aerospace Industries Association represents a good 260 member companies in the civil and military aerospace sector with an annual turnover of around 46 billion euros. Before the start of the Munich Security Conference, the Federation of German Industries (BDI) is hosting a space symposium at the Künstlerhaus in Munich this Thursday.
