GovMilSpace and the New Defense Landscape

It has been a momentous year for space and defense, as nations around the world ramp up investments in space capabilities for defense. This means the conversations will take on an extra edge at GovMilSpace next year. Major countries around the world are stepping up their investment in space capabilities. Nowhere is this more apparent than Germany, which plans to invest 35 billion euro ($41 billion) in space defense capabilities by 2030. We’re seeing similar investments from NATO, Poland, the U.K. and others.

I recently attended both DSEI and World Space Business Week (WSBW) where I saw this pivot to defense in real time. Earth Observation companies like Spire and  BlackSky spoke about how the defense market offers more opportunity now than the commercial market. Certainly, when you look at the dealflow from the likes of Iceye in recent months, the trend is undeniable.

Our team launched GovMilSpace to facilitate and bring together commercial companies with government stakeholders. With the likelihood of more major spending initiatives to announced before SATShow, these conversations are likely to be elevated still further in March.

I was struck by something that Royal Air Force Air Marshal Paul Godfrey, who is serving as assistant chief of Space Operations for Future Concepts and Partnership, with the U.S. Space Force, said at DSEI. He talked of talked of how space, cyber and electro-magnetic (EM) interference had created an “invisible front line” where it is difficult to attribute potential adversary action. The implication here is that space is becoming more contested and adversary actions are more in the shadows, creating new challenges for governments to solve.

Thanks to CyberSat and GovMilSpace, there are forums now where important conversations can take place between industry and governments. Keeping space secure is becoming a priority. Leadership in space is critical in a more fragile geopolitical world.

Mark Holmes

Senior Editorial Director

Via Satellite