Germany Hosts Combined Space Operations Initiative Conference, Emphasizes Multinational Cooperation

Germany recently played host to the Principals' Board conference of the Combined Space Operations (CSpO) Initiative, marking the first time the conference was held on German soil.

The international gathering, held at the Julius Leber barracks in Berlin from December 5th to 7th, brought together high-ranking representatives from the defense ministries and armed forces of Germany, New Zealand, Great Britain, the USA, Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, and Norway. The conference aimed to explore avenues for enhancing multinational cooperation in space and to discuss current and future aspects of space security.

Led by Lieutenant General Kai Rohrschneider, the Head of the Armed Forces Command and Space Commissioner at the Federal Ministry of Defense, the conference highlighted the expansion of the Combined Space Operations Initiative to include Italy, Japan, and Norway. General Carsten Breuer, the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, stressed the significance of the space dimension in the current security landscape, especially in light of the deteriorating situation in Europe due to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

During the conference, participants emphasized the importance of strengthening the rules-based international order and promoting responsible behavior in space. The "CSpO Combined Space Operations Vision 2031" was a key element, outlining principles such as the freedom to use space, responsible and sustainable space use, partnership, and adherence to international law. The Principals' Board highlighted these principles as guiding the initiative's future activities, spanning the development of interoperable architectures, responsible military behavior in space, and information exchange.

General Breuer emphasized the role of multinational cooperation as the key to success in space operations, emphasizing the need to enhance the interoperability of national capabilities. He also noted the comprehensive work carried out by the Bundeswehr's Combined Space Operations Initiative, underlining its importance in addressing the challenges of space-related operations.

Germany, in line with its evolving security and defense policies, outlined its commitment to expanding space activities and capabilities. This includes the implementation of a space surveillance system for observing and tracking objects in space, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the space situation. Germany is also modernizing its SAR Lupe reconnaissance satellite system and the SatComBw satellite communications system.

Berlin is set to launch two additional SARah satellites from Vandenberg/USA. As part of ongoing modernization efforts, the SatComBw satellite communications system, crucial for military communications, will replace the existing SatComBw level 2 satellites with the advanced SatComBw level 3 by 2028/2029—a significant upgrade. The procurement of the space situation system is nearing completion, and Germany remains committed to substantial investments in additional resources for space surveillance.

Germany's guidelines for space, derived from the National Security Strategy, emphasize strengthening the international rules-based order, establishing principles for responsible behavior in space, and integrating science and research into the country's space security architecture. Germany aims to publish its first space security strategy in the first quarter of 2024.

As a member of the Combined Space Operations Initiative since 2019, Germany, along with France, actively participates in the multilateral space security forum, working towards securing freedom of action in space and preventing risks of escalation and conflict. The initiative, founded in 2014 by the USA, Australia, Canada, Great Britain, and New Zealand, continues to evolve, with the inclusion of Italy, Japan, and Norway in this year's Principals' Board conference, further expanding the collaborative efforts to safeguard space security.