Reference News Network, January 29 report: According to the website of Germany's "Welt," on January 26, the German Federal Armed Forces plan to spend billions of euros to build a satellite constellation, codenamed "SATCOMBw Phase IV." The plan has led to an unexpected collaboration: according to media reports, the German defense company Rheinmetall and the satellite manufacturer Bremen Orbital Technologies (OHB) will join forces to bid. OHB confirmed, "is currently in discussions with Rheinmetall about possible cooperation."

Last December, Rheinmetall also entered the space business, signing a contract worth 1.7 billion euros with the Federal Ministry of Defense to provide a reconnaissance satellite constellation named "SPOCK 1." To gain this capability, Rheinmetall established a joint venture with the world-leading radar satellite manufacturer and operator "Iceye," holding 60% of the shares. The satellites for the "SPOCK 1" project will be produced at Rheinmetall's factory in Neuss, Germany.

Now, Rheinmetall plans to participate in another satellite project of the Federal Armed Forces. According to reports, the "SATCOMBw Phase IV" aims to build a network of 100 to 200 communication satellites in low Earth orbit, with an estimated cost of over 8 billion euros. The project is modeled after Elon Musk's Starlink satellite network, which currently has 9,000 satellites in orbit. By 2029, the German Armed Forces plan to use this space-based communication network to connect tanks, ships, and soldiers.

Not only is the new alliance of Rheinmetall and OHB bidding and proposing a purely German solution, but also the European leading satellite manufacturer Airbus Defence and Space is also vying for it. Airbus plans to merge its operations with those of Thales in France and Leonardo in Italy.

OHB's CEO Marco Fuchs has publicly opposed this European satellite alliance to the European Commission and put his bet on Germany. On the other hand, Airbus previously won the "SATCOMBw Phase III" project of the German Federal Armed Forces, which includes two large geostationary communication satellites. This 2.1 billion euro contract was signed in 2024, and the two satellites are planned to be put into operation by the end of this decade.

Through its partnership with Rheinmetall, OHB has opened the door to the defense market, while Rheinmetall has gained expertise in the aerospace field. OHB recently raised its business growth expectations. After a 24% increase in orders to 2.1 billion euros in 2025, the company now expects annual additional business volume of 3 billion euros in the medium term. It is expected that by 2028, the total turnover will exceed 2 billion euros.

OHB said: "The importance of the defense market is increasingly growing." (Translation / Wang Ziqiang)

Original: toutiao.com/article/7600716144823075363/

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