The initiative aims to give participating militaries a common, up-to-date picture of space activity. It will support efforts to protect satellites used for imagery, navigation and communications from collisions or interference.
Only a handful of EU countries have significant access to a recognised space picture, including France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Others rely heavily on the United States or commercial providers, whose services are expanding rapidly.
The agreement was formally concluded on 25 September 2026. EDA expects the project to help close the capability gap by 2029, ahead of the EU’s defence readiness target of 2030.
The participating countries are Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden. Other EU Member States can still join.
The mechanism will build on EDA’s EU SatCom Market, which supplies commercial satellite communications to defence ministries and EU missions. Launched in 2012, it has become EDA’s largest project, with its contract ceiling increasing to €250 million in early 2024.
EDA will use its experience of pooling satellite demand and negotiating economies of scale. The new scheme will offer a non-binding, pay-as-you-go model without long-term budget commitments.
A survey assessing suppliers is due to conclude in December. EDA aims to agree a programme arrangement with Member States around 2027–2028.
The agency plans to launch a framework contract after that arrangement. Initial operating capability is targeted for early 2029.
The 2023 Capability Development Plan identified Space Situational Awareness as a key area within space operations. The 2024 Coordinated Annual Review on Defence found insufficient collaboration on strategic enablers, including space awareness and other space-based capabilities.
The Joint White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030 highlighted threats to Europe’s freedom of action in space. EDA is also working closely with the European Space Agency.
