The DownLink Podcast Space Money: Germany’s Military Is Spending… Hugely
Oct 11, 2025
Antje Nötzold, a senior researcher focused on military space policy, and Torsten Kriening, CEO of SpaceWatch.Global, dive into Germany's staggering €35 billion military investment in space. They discuss the strategic implications of this funding, especially in response to global threats from nations like China and Russia. The guests explore how Germany's defense posture is evolving, the specific space threats faced, and the potential benefits for the German industry. This significant shift highlights a renewed focus on capabilities and collaborative efforts in the space domain.
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Historic €35B Space Commitment
- Germany plans €35B for military space by 2030, roughly $41B, a major shift in national priorities.
- The budget rivals U.S. Space Force spending and signals accelerated German commitment to space defense.
Zeitwende: A New Defense Era
- Germany underwent a Zeitwende: a political turning point that removed previous spending limits for defense.
- Policymakers now prioritize building independent European capabilities rather than relying solely on allies.
Sensing Before Defending
- Bundeswehr lacks sufficient space domain awareness and depends on allied data and services right now.
- Germany aims for sovereignty in space sensing because "if we can't see it, we can't defend it."