Europe’s ambition to become self-reliant in space technology faces significant challenges, with the continent continuing to depend heavily on the United States for satellite communications, military intelligence and rocket-launching capabilities. Growing geopolitical uncertainties, particularly concerns over Washington’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, have renewed calls among European nations to develop independent space infrastructure and reduce their reliance on American technology.
The issue has gained urgency following disruptions to Ukraine’s access to Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Ukrainian drones reportedly experienced connectivity restrictions when travelling at speeds exceeding 160 kmph, while Russian ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv were not preceded by the usual warnings based on American satellite intelligence. These developments have raised concerns among European defence establishments about the vulnerability of their military operations if access to US-controlled space systems is restricted.
European countries have realised that their existing capabilities cannot fully replace American satellite-based communications and intelligence networks. The situation has accelerated efforts to establish alternative systems. Shares of Eutelsat, considered Europe’s closest competitor to Starlink, rose by 23% after Ukraine reported restrictions on its satellite connectivity. The European Union has also moved to accelerate regulatory clearances for a proposed merger involving three major European space companies, with the objective of creating a stronger competitor to SpaceX.
On October 19, four major European telecommunications companies also expressed interest in collaborating with a satellite operator to develop an alternative to Starlink.
However, achieving complete independence in space technology remains a distant goal. Europe faces three major challenges: satellite internet services for civilian and military use, space-based intelligence and surveillance systems, and the infrastructure required to launch satellites into orbit.
The gap between Europe and the US is particularly visible in satellite internet technology. Europe’s principal alternative, OneWeb, is owned by Eutelsat, in which the French and British governments hold stakes. Founded in 2012, OneWeb initially had an early start over Starlink, which began operations three years later. However, SpaceX’s substantial financial resources and frequent rocket launches enabled Starlink to expand rapidly and establish a dominant position.
OneWeb currently operates approximately 600 satellites, compared with more than 10,000 satellites in the Starlink network. Consequently, its capacity to handle large volumes of data and serve multiple users simultaneously remains considerably lower. Its satellites also operate at higher altitudes, requiring larger and more expensive user terminals. The cheapest OneWeb terminals reportedly cost around $9,000, approximately 45 times the price of a basic Starlink terminal.
The European Union has proposed investing €15 billion in IRIS², a planned network of 348 communication satellites intended to serve government agencies and armed forces. However, the first satellite is not expected to be launched before 2029. Germany is separately planning a military communications network comprising 100 satellites, with an estimated investment of €10 billion. The parallel initiatives have raised concerns about duplication of resources and fragmentation of Europe’s space infrastructure.
Europe has made comparatively encouraging progress in satellite surveillance through emerging private-sector companies. Finnish startup Iceye has developed compact radar satellites that are significantly smaller than traditional surveillance satellites. Sweden launched its first spy satellite this year, manufactured by Iceye, although it was carried into orbit aboard an American Falcon 9 rocket. Iceye has already deployed around 80 satellites and plans to increase its production capacity to 100 next year.
The availability of multiple smaller satellites could also improve security by reducing the impact of individual satellites being damaged, jammed or attacked. However, Europe continues to lack advanced missile-warning systems and certain protective capabilities available to the US. France and Germany are jointly developing ballistic missile-warning satellites, but their systems are not expected to become operational until the early 2030s.
Another major obstacle is Europe’s limited rocket-launching capacity. Arianespace, primarily owned by Airbus and Safran, can launch heavy payloads into orbit, but its launch frequency remains significantly lower than that of SpaceX, while costs are considerably higher. This has forced several European satellite operators, including Iceye and OneWeb, to rely on American rockets to deploy their spacecraft.
Experts believe Europe will need sustained government investment, consistent orders and greater competition among private companies to develop an affordable and independent launch industry. The European Space Agency has introduced a €900-million launcher challenge to encourage companies to develop new rockets, with payments linked to the achievement of specific milestones, including successful orbital launches.
However, industry representatives argue that developing competitive launch systems requires regular operations and long-term demand. Without sufficient orders, European rocket manufacturers may struggle to reduce costs and achieve economies of scale.
As geopolitical tensions reshape international alliances and space becomes increasingly important to national security, Europe’s efforts to build an independent space ecosystem are gaining momentum. However, replacing American capabilities across communications, intelligence and satellite launches will require substantial financial commitments, technological advancement and years of sustained investment.
