Bundesheer develops and builds its own satellites

For the first time, the Federal Army is developing a satellite with the Netherlands. The project is called Leo2vleo (Low Earth Orbit to Very Low Earth Orbit) and will fly between the Low Earth Orbit (around 500 km height) and the very low Earth Orbit (around 200 km). It comprises two parts: satellite -based navigation and the satellite image. The construction of a total of four satellites is planned, with three intended for operational use and another is considered a test object. The total cost is around ten million euros – Austria will bear six million. The project is currently in the construction phase; The start of the satellites is planned for the end of 2026 and early 2027. The big advantage: the satellites provide significantly sharper images than conventional satellites – and thus more precise information for missions.

“The security policy change – especially through the war in Ukraine – has shown how important satellites for military missions are. That is why the army is realigned in the area of space and wants to be less dependent on other states in the future,” said Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner. For this purpose, investments are made in a modern space strategy. Under the direction of Brigadier Friedrich Teichmann, the Bundesheer is currently carrying out two research projects. The aim is to develop your own satellites for communication, navigation and satellite images. In view of modern threats such as cyber attacks and geopolitical dependencies, this step is essential for the operational and sovereignty of Austria.

Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner: “It’s about independence and that we have our own infrastructure in space. This is also part of our“ mission forward ”. A modern and comprehensive national defense requires independent access to space -based infrastructure in the 21st century. With the construction of its own satellites, Austria no longer only becomes user, but finally also active designer and provider in orbit. It fulfills me with great pride that, as a federal army, we, together with our partners, take this future -oriented step towards the security policy independence of Austria. ”

Another purely Austrian project is Beaconsat that implemented the Bundesheer together with civilian companies. The construction of a satellite that is responsible for navigation via satellite signals is planned. The special feature lies in the extremely small size, which means that the satellite is considered safe and difficult to attack. The project costs amount to less than one million euros. The project is currently in the construction phase, the start is planned for the end of 2026.

With the projects Leo2vleo and Beaconsat, which together comprise 5 satellites, Austria strategically opens up for international development in the field of military space use and will in future position itself as an active co -designer. In the long term, the Federal Armed Forces wants to provide the three most important satellite services – communication, navigation and satellite image – independently in order to significantly reduce the dependency on other countries. The operating time of the planned systems is three to five years; In order to ensure a permanent satellite connection, you plan to bring new satellites to the earth orbit at regular intervals. Basically, there is a distinction between civil satellites – for example for weather observation, internet or television – and military satellites that are essential for operational management and position images. Without these space -based services, the federal army would no longer have a modern ability to use abroad.