German Defense Minister Pistorius Visits Isar Aerospace, Discusses Bundeswehr Space Launch Capabilities
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius visited Isar Aerospace in Ottobrunn, where CEO Daniel Metzler emphasized that modern defense begins in space. Both agreed the Bundeswehr must expand sovereign satellite capabilities, citing vulnerabilities exposed by the Ukraine war, including Starlink service interruptions. Pistorius noted Germany is considering a Bundeswehr-owned launch site to reduce reliance on foreign rockets like SpaceX's Falcon. The visit highlighted Germany's need for domestic launch vehicles and spaceports, as existing European capacities (Ariane, French Guiana) are limited. This aligns with a 35-billion-euro defense package announced in fall 2023 to boost space access. Rheinmetall is also building a satellite production facility. The article underscores Europe's strategic gap in independent space launch capabilities.
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