The German Armed Forces Are Preparing A Starlink Rival

Elon Musk’s Starlink is a top choice when it comes to satellite connectivity for most countries, but the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) plans to break free from its grip. To do this, the Bundeswehr is brewing fresh plans to launch its satellite constellation into space.

A Satellite Constellation From The German Armed Forces

On 9 April 2025, Handelsblatt, the German business newspaper, reported that the Bundeswehr is preparing to develop its Starlink rival. This rival service will offer connectivity service from a constellation of satellites that will launch into low Earth orbit (LEO).

From the reports on this topic, we learn that the plans are to launch this rival constellation into space by 2029. Making up the constellation will be hundreds of satellites that might perform various tasks like providing communication services or acting as observatories.

A spokesperson for the German Ministry of Defence said in an interview that confirmed the existence of plans to launch a satellite constellation. However, the spokesperson didn’t share details about the plan, as it is currently a matter of national security.

The spokesperson says, “Various options for the potential deployment of constellations are being explored to meet the growing demand for space-based reconnaissance through national capabilities.” At this time, the German Armed Forces only operate eight to ten satellites, hence limiting what they can achieve with these satellites.

This highlights the need for a proper constellation to strengthen the German Armed Forces via space technology. The recent turn of events surrounding world governments seems to have woken Germany up, reminding it of the need to own and operate its satellite constellation.

Starlink Might Lose Its Grip On Germany’s Reliance On Its Services

Over the past few years, Starlink has proved itself a reliable option for satellite communication. However, with its recent ordeal in Europe sees various governments are planning to pull away from dependency on its services.

While pulling away from reliance on Starlink might be a daunting task for Germany, it is achievable. Handelsblatt says that this coming satellite constellation launch is estimated to cost over ten billion Euros.

Such an investment will ensure that the launch of the German Armed Forces satellite constellation will be a success. Additionally, the region is seeing an influx of more space firms with unique goals and visions for space exploration.

Working with these firms will also help Germany achieve its goal of reducing its reliance on Starlink services. Over the course of the next four years, we might see some moves geared towards the achievement of this goal.