EU plans launching intelligence satellites after US pause on Ukraine support

Brussels is exploring the creation of a new satellite network aimed at enhancing military intelligence capabilities as concerns over the United States’ commitment to European defense continue to rise.

Andrius Kubilius, the European Commission’s defence and space commissioner, confirmed the discussions in an interview with Financial Times, per Caliber.Az.

The initiative comes after President Donald Trump’s recent decision to pause intelligence sharing with Ukraine, underscoring Europe’s reliance on American support for military intelligence.

“Given the changes in the geopolitical situation, the European Commission is considering expanding its satellite capacities to improve geospatial intelligence support for security,” Kubilius said.

The proposed satellite network would serve to detect threats, monitor military force movements, and coordinate military operations. Although discussions are still in the early stages, Kubilius emphasized that the new system would complement existing programs, such as the Copernicus Earth observation system, which provides climate and disaster monitoring. Unlike Copernicus, which updates every 24 hours, the new system is expected to offer more frequent updates for military needs.

Kubilius acknowledged that the project would be costly and time-consuming, but suggested the possibility of a "temporary commercial approach" to expedite its development. “We are looking to create a specific system as an Earth observation governmental service. It would have high technology and high data availability,” he said. The satellites would operate in low Earth orbit, requiring a network of dozens of satellites to ensure regular updates, potentially every 30 minutes, similar to the best commercial systems.

In addition to the satellite initiative, the European Commission is advancing its own multi-orbit broadband network, IRIS², to enhance communication capabilities. This year, the Commission is set to complete its Govsatcom program, which will link satellite systems across member states.

Kubilius also previewed the Commission’s forthcoming defense plan, which will allocate €150 billion in loans to EU member states. This initiative, he noted, will allow countries to increase defense spending without breaching EU fiscal rules, potentially unlocking up to an additional €650 billion. Part of this funding may be used to purchase Ukrainian weapons at a lower cost, which would both support the Ukrainian economy and bolster European defense.

The defense plan will address areas in which EU countries remain heavily dependent on the U.S., such as airlift capacity, air-to-air refueling, and air warning and control systems.

Kubilius stressed that these strategic areas must be strengthened for Europe to better secure its defense autonomy.

By Khagan Isayev