Overview
- Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Thursday the federal government is officially examining the idea of a Bundeswehr-owned launch base after visiting Isar Aerospace in Ottobrunn, but he stressed the plan is at an early stage and no country or site has been chosen.
- Pistorius framed the move as a response to a shortfall in satellites Germany can launch itself and a need for secure communications for armed forces that cannot rely solely on commercial booking queues.
- Industry and officials say Europe relies heavily on U.S. launch providers such as SpaceX, which can require disclosure of satellite technical data, and that global launch capacity is nearly booked through 2029, creating scheduling risks for military payloads.
- Isar Aerospace is a possible domestic partner but its Spectrum rocket has flown once, has delayed its second test several times, and the company reports commercial bookings through 2028, so it is not yet a guaranteed supplier.
- Building national launch capability faces major hurdles including Germany’s dense population, the usual need for coastal drop zones for failed stages, likely high cost, and the need for European cooperation to create redundant, resilient launch options.