SpaceNews.com
• Andrew Parsonson
European governments are preparing to invest as much as €24 billion ($27 billion) in a joint military space project spanning satellite communications, surveillance and missile warning. The initiative would also establish shared tracking data, deepening cooperation across Europe’s defense-space capabilities.
European Spaceflight
Europe
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European governments are preparing to invest as much as €24 billion ($27 billion) in a joint military space project spanning satellite communications, surveillance and missile warning. The initiative would also establish shared tracking data, deepening cooperation across Europe’s defense-space capabilities.
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Pegasus Airlines has closed its acquisition of Czech Airlines and the Smartwings Group after securing all required regulatory approvals and satisfying transaction conditions. The deal expands the Turkish carrier’s European footprint and creates a larger, multi-brand airline group with an established Czech platform.
The UK Ministry of Defence has extended its support contract with Airbus for the RAF’s A400M Atlas fleet in a £190 million deal. The agreement aims to increase the number of fully mission-capable aircraft available each day from 10 to 13 by the end of 2027.
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The Norwegian government plans to invest almost €60 million to fund construction of a second orbital launch pad at Andøya Spaceport. The proposal would expand the spaceport’s launch infrastructure and strengthen Norway’s role in Europe’s emerging commercial orbital launch market.
EASA is proposing a system to monitor takeoff performance in real time, including aircraft parameter and position checks and ongoing supervision. The initiative would establish a regulatory and operational framework for detecting deviations during the critical takeoff phase, with implementation envisioned from 2033.
LiveEO CEO Daniel Seidel discusses the INSPECTEO award’s combination of optical and synthetic-aperture radar data, Berlin’s financing guarantee for the company’s satellites and a more collaborative approach emerging across Europe’s space industry.
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UK launch companies Skyrora and HyImpulse reached separate milestones as the country’s emerging orbital sector develops. Skyrora used a scaled vehicle at Machrihanish to validate Skyrora XL pressurization and engine performance, while HyImpulse passed the Civil Aviation Authority review required to launch from SaxaVord early next year.
A Breaking Defense roundtable looks ahead at how Europe’s military air fleets could evolve over the next three decades. The discussion focuses on the long-term trajectory of the continent’s air forces, offering strategic perspective on future fleet composition and capability planning.
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