cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/4856544

Archived version

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[German Defence Minister Boris] Pistorius said two Russian Luch-Olymp reconnaissance satellites are tracking two Intelsat satellites that are used by, among others, the German armed forces.

The minister said that as he was speaking, “39 Chinese and Russian reconnaissance satellites are flying over us,” with their observations being transmitted in real-time. “So be careful what you say,” he added.

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“They can jam, blind, manipulate, or kinetically disrupt satellites,” he told a space conference in Berlin, adding that the German military has already been targeted by jamming attacks.

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Europe lags behind the United States, China and Russia in space.

For decades, Europe has relied upon the U.S. for its security in space, but the Trump administration’s “America First” policies, plus a commercial market that’s growing exponentially, has prompted Europeans to rethink their approach.

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German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius revealed the active operations as he announced a €35 billion ($41 billion) investment in his country’s space programs over the next five years.