original in German
https://www.hartpunkt.de/helsing-und-kongsberg-wollen-in-deutschland-satelliten-bauen/
English summary
German AI specialist Helsing and Norway’s defence contractor Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace have signed a cooperation agreement to develop a European‑owned constellation of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) satellites. Together with Germany’s sensor firm Hensoldt and launch partner Isar Aerospace, they aim to have the network operational by 2029, featuring a fully integrated communications layer for Europe. The partners plan to establish a joint venture in Germany for producing Kongsberg‑derived satellites that can be customized to exclude U.S. ITAR‑controlled components, supporting Germany’s €35 billion five‑year investment in military space security.
The initiative, dubbed “SPOCK 1,” will combine Kongsberg’s low‑Earth‑orbit satellite hardware with Helsing’s on‑board artificial‑intelligence algorithms for real‑time data preprocessing. Hensoldt will contribute SAR, electro‑optic, infrared and electronic‑warfare sensors, while Kongsberg Satellite Services will provide its extensive ground‑station network for command and control. The partners stress that experience gained from operations in Ukraine underlines the strategic importance of space‑based target acquisition, and they intend to invest several tens of millions of euros in the near term to advance the architecture.
If successful, the ISR constellation could consist of 75–100 satellites, delivering weather‑independent, near‑real‑time imagery and signal data across synthetic‑aperture radar, optical and RF modalities. The system is designed to operate within European legal frameworks such as the Satellite Data Security Act, and commercial image distribution may be offered where permissible. Observers expect the joint venture to be formally created early next year, positioning Europe with sovereign space‑based surveillance capabilities that bolster deterrence and defense readiness.
