The goal of the EU in the medium and long term may be the creation of a real European space command.
The bloc of European countries intends to expand the defense dimension in the existing and future infrastructures of the EU, and by next year to adopt its own "Space Defense Strategy". reported Commissioner Thierry Breton at the 14th EU Space Conference.
Outer space is exponentially a controversial area, according to the commissioner.
First of all, according to the official, Europe should arm itself with a space communications infrastructure, for which a super-secure infrastructure will be created using quantum encryption. The Block will then work on defining a European space traffic management strategy and a strategy to stimulate innovation in space.
Breton also announced the creation of the investment fund CASSINI Space with the EIF. It will deploy an investment potential of at least €1 billion to support European space startups looking to scale.
The new European space infrastructures will be dual-use by design, integrating defense needs from the outset. For example, a secure communications infrastructure could be equipped with payloads on LEO satellites, allowing space to be monitored from space.
According to Breton, 2022 will be the year of European space, the year "when we specifically and fully integrate the defense and strategic space dimension into our approach and policies."
