NATO Allies join forces to develop high-end space capabilities

Press Release + Noah Note

On Tuesday (7 July), NATO Allies opened a new chapter in Allied space operations, with multinational initiatives and partnerships to develop new space-based capabilities.

At the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara, eight Allies also launched a new multinational initiative named HALO – Hybrid Alliance Layered Operations in Space. HALO will focus on improving connectivity and integration of sovereign, nationally owned and controlled military satellites into a networked mega constellation. It aims to improve Alliance resilience and military advantage in space, enabling high-speed communications, intelligence and missile tracking. It will overcome the cost, time and coverage limitations of single-nation satellite fleets.

At the Forum, several Allies also announced significant contributions to defence in and from space. Canada became the 15th member of NATO’s STARLIFT multinational initiative, which explores ways to develop a network of launch capabilities that will help Allies launch assets at short notice from spaceports across the Alliance. This will boost NATO’s ability to react more quickly to threats from space. The German company Isar Aerospace also signed a contract with Canada’s Maritime Launch Services to secure access the launch infrastructure and services at Spaceport Nova Scotia and improve its orbital launch readiness.

Spain became the 19th country to join NATO’s Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space (APSS), the largest multinational investment in space-based capabilities in NATO’s history. Spain will contribute by increasing coastal surveillance through imagery from its “Atlantic Constellation” satellites.

Following the success of the original IMECE Earth observation satellite, Türkiye announced an ambitious plan for the development of two additional high-resolution satellites to complement the robust space capabilities in the region. This is in addition to an investment into Low Orbital satellites for military communications and the development of Early Warning Radar Systems which will help keep Türkiye connected and secure on the battlefield.

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Noah Note: Early morning crew we are still awaiting details onnthe Isar/Maritime deal. We have not received any release yet regarding it's signing. Of course Isar is a member of Team GERNOR, and had previous commited to developing launch capabilities with MLS several weeks ago. Once we have details, we will discuss this in more details.

While also mot mentioned, Canada is a member of this new HALO initative, the goal of which is to provide a common, internetworked framework for allies to unify space-based capabilities, reliably share information and data, and supplmenet gaps in existing national capability.

For Canada, who is building out several Soverign layers of space capability, including DESSP, a replacement Space-Based Optical Capability, and six different communication constellations this new initiative is as much political as it is strategic.

The hope at least is that we can capitalize on the Federal Government designating Space as a key Industrial sector (and the support that comes with it) to create a competitive space industry. Part of that is recognition that Canada in itself is limited in how we can support our domestic space industry, as such, we need to look to international partners to support Canada's domestic space economy.

By sharing capacity, and building out the ecosystem of a greater NATO network, Canada’s tens of billions space modernization becomes not only a major anxhor capability to the alliance, but also a tool to help support investment and Canadian Industrial involvement in the other HALO states.

Also today we have Canada’s STARLIFT confirmation, something the government confirmed they were moving on several months ago when Launch The North was announced, but we now get some confirm. If you are a Canadian space nerd, you're eating well at NATO!