Media: Rheinmetall military group and OHB company preparing German Starlink equivalent

German defense group Rheinmetall and aerospace company OHB have started negotiations to create their own satellite communication network, which will be Europe's answer to Starlink, providing the Bundeswehr with secure internet on low Earth orbit.

What is known

The plans for such a project are reported by the Financial Times, which learned that it involves deploying a military satellite communications network for Germany. The system is expected to provide high-speed and secure internet, reducing dependence on American technologies, including Starlink, and enhancing the autonomy of military communications, increasing the resilience of communications in potential military conflicts, and in general, strengthening the protection and sovereignty of all of Europe.

The initiative is considered part of a large-scale German program for the development of military space technologies. Germany allocated 35 billion euros to develop military-space infrastructure, and Rheinmetall and OHB are hoping to receive part of this budget if their joint venture wins a future tender.

Negotiations are in their early stages, and it's too early to speak of a "German Starlink" as a realized fact.

Source: Financial Times