Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and growing uncertainty in transatlantic relations, Europe has taken decisive steps to strengthen its military capabilities and reduce reliance on the United States. A key example is the EU’s 2030 “readiness roadmap,” presented by the Council of Ministers in October 2025, which includes four flagship projects aimed at enhancing strategic autonomy in defense. These efforts respond to a significant imbalance in space capabilities: in 2023, the United States accounted for 81% of global effective space launches, and only a handful of EU member states (primarily France, Germany, Italy, and Spain) currently operate military satellites. As a result, Europe has been dependent on the US for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) in military operations.
This dynamic is beginning to shift. One of the flagship projects is the European Space Shield, which is central to the EU’s evolving defense strategy. The project builds on existing programs such as the Galileo position, navigation, and timing (PNT) constellation, while supporting the development of interoperable capabilities, including systems to counter jamming and system disruption. The €7.3 billion European Defence Fund (2021–2027) has also expanded its focus on space, with its 2025 annual work programme funding a feasibility study on on-orbit servicing and a prototype low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation for ISR. In parallel, the European Commission has proposed the Earth Observation Governmental Services (EOGS) initiative to provide remote-sensing data to member states during the 2028–2034 budget period, though its final structure and funding remain under negotiation.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has further reinforced these efforts, marking an unprecedented shift toward defense-related activities. Its Council of Ministers approved the allocation of the next three-year budget cycle to the development of space-based ISR capabilities in support of EOGS, marking the first time since its inception 50 years ago that ESA has explicitly operated in a defense capacity. The €1.35 billion European Resilience from Space (ERS) programme will focus on developing dual-use technologies to strengthen European resilience and autonomy.
Taken together, these initiatives reflect a concerted European effort to close the space capabilities gap with the United States and enhance independent decision-making in defense and security. At the national level, key member states are also accelerating investment. Germany unveiled its first national security space strategy in November 2025, committing €35 billion to space security between 2026 and 2030 and pledging €5.4 billion to ESA’s 2026–2028 budget. France remains Europe’s leading space power, with extensive defense-dedicated satellite and ground-based systems, while Spain has expanded its role through the launch of SpainSat NG-II and plans to contribute capacity to the EU’s proposed GOVSATCOM service for both civilian and military use.
