Cliff Notes
- Germany’s defence minister has raised alarms about Russian satellites shadowing Intelsat satellites used by German forces and others.
- Concerns have been voiced regarding the rapid expansion of Russian and Chinese military capabilities in space, which could disrupt or destroy satellite operations.
- Observations from French space start-up Aldoria and US firm Slingshot Aerospace suggest “unfriendly” behaviours from Russian satellites, prompting calls for offensive capabilities development in space.
Russian satellites are shadowing our satellites, warns German defence minister | World News
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Germany’s defence minister has warned that his country’s satellites are being shadowed by Russian satellites.
Boris Pistorius cited concerns over two Luch/Olymp satellites shadowing Intelsat satellites used by German forces and others.
He told a Berlin space conference: “Russia and China have expanded their capabilities for warfare in space rapidly over the past years.
“They can disrupt satellite operations, blind satellites, manipulate or kinetically destroy them.”
The two Russian satellites – launched in 2014 and 2023 – have long been accused of “eavesdropping” on other countries’ satellites.
French space start-up Aldoria said it observed one performing a “sudden close approach” to a satellite in geostationary orbit in May 2024.
The year before, US firm Slingshot Aerospace said it had detected “unfriendly” behaviour – with one of the satellites showing a pattern in which it was stopping near non-Russian satellites.
Mr Pistorius reiterated the need for talks on developing offensive capabilities in space as a deterrent.
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