European Coalition Launches €24 Billion Military Space Program

• •20 European governments approved a €24 billion military space program.
• •The SPACE initiative consolidates six core defense space mission domains.
• •A complementary orbital tracking agreement was finalized to enhance space security.

On September 28, 2026, a coalition of 20 European governments approved a €24 billion military space program named SPACE, aimed at establishing sovereign defense capabilities in orbit. This initiative includes 18 EU member states, Norway, and Ukraine, focusing on six core mission domains: Space-Based Early Warning, Secure Satellite Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, Positioning and Timing, Tactically Responsive Space, and NAVWAR. The program seeks to enhance military coordination and capabilities through shared procurement and mission design. A complementary agreement for orbital tracking was finalized on September 29, 2026, to pool military-grade tracking data among 15 EU member states. This initiative reflects a growing trend toward collaborative European defense and aims to ensure space domain awareness amid increasing geopolitical tensions. The SPACE program is expected to significantly bolster European military capabilities in space.