2024-07-26 22:56:17
The Minister of Defense visited a special unit of the German Armed Forces in North Rhine-Westphalia. Their area of responsibility: space.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) has emphasized the strategic importance of space for the Bundeswehr’s defense capabilities and advocated for a greater presence in space. “We need military control of satellite operations and we must position ourselves more strongly in space,” said Pistorius during a visit to the Bundeswehr’s Space Command in Uedem in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Many members of the public are not yet aware of the importance of the Bundeswehr’s latest command. “We simply have to recognize that space is a strategic dimension and we have to deal with it, and sooner rather than later,” stressed the minister. This includes data security and satellite security, but also defense against attacks on communications.
The Bundeswehr Space Command, newly established in 2021, is responsible for planning and conducting space operations. Its tasks include protecting and monitoring satellites and observing dangerous space debris.
Pistorius spoke of the “pioneering work” that the soldiers in Uedem are doing. “They are dealing with an area that most people – and I would have counted myself among them ten or five years ago – see primarily as a setting for science fiction films,” Pistorius said to the soldiers, with whom he spoke behind closed doors.
The Defense Minister was already informed about the work of the Air Force in Büchel, Rhineland-Palatinate, in the morning. Since Wednesday, Pistorius has been visiting selected Bundeswehr locations throughout Germany. According to the Defense Ministry, he wants to use his summer trip to find out about the troops’ capabilities and gain a direct impression of their operational readiness.