Japan, EU to launch joint satellite network to cut reliance on SpaceX

Japan and the European Union are preparing to launch a joint satellite constellation and deepen cooperation in the defence industry, aiming to reduce technological dependence on US companies like SpaceX and enhance the autonomy of strategic communications.

The initiative is expected to be a key topic at the upcoming Japan-EU summit. Under the plan, Tokyo and Brussels will co-develop and operate small satellites, alongside expanding public-private partnerships in space technology and defence sectors, Caliber.Az reports, citing Japanese media.

A draft of the agreement highlights that real-time satellite-based infrastructure is essential for digital transformation. Both sides acknowledge they lag behind the U.S. and China in the integration of such technologies, and see this collaboration as a critical step toward catching up.

Multiple, coordinated satellites are called a satellite constellation. These systems enable frequent, high-precision observations difficult for a single large satellite. Constellations of communications satellites allow for near-real-time interactions. Both Japan and the EU consider this critical to digital transformation, but the U.S. leads the field.

By Khagan Isayev