Space not only has infinite expanses, it also harbors infinite dangers. "What's flying around up there is critical infrastructure. It needs to be protected." Alexander Kleinschmidt means the tens of thousands of satellites. The co-founder of the network event "Mission-K" cites cyber attacks on satellites or the risk of collision with other flying objects as examples of dangers. Kleinschmidt reports that attacks on critical infrastructure in space have increased. That's why space is becoming interesting for defense.
A point that the federal government has also recognized. Almost a year ago it adopted the first space security strategy. Among other things, it says: Military ability to act should be strengthened through the use of space. The Bundeswehr wants to provide better information and identify dangers earlier.
Over 100 companies at the trade fair
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius described it this way in the Bundestag last week: "We are building a resilient space security architecture - consisting of ground stations, satellite systems and corresponding launch capacities, which are of central importance in this context."
Space is a new field for the Bundeswehr - and for the arms industry. More than 100 companies and start-ups from the industry are represented at “Mission-K” in Kalkar and want to network with the Federal Ministry of Defense. In other words: They want to find out whether their products and developments fit what the Bundeswehr envisions for space defense.
“Buy what you really need”
Sara Nanni is skeptical about such network meetings. The security policy spokeswoman for the Greens in the Bundestag warns in an interview with the ARD capital studio: Too much closeness between client and contractor has repeatedly led to very bad decisions in the past. It should not happen that the Bundeswehr buys what the industry is happy to sell - but rather what is really needed.
With regard to "Mission-K", Nanni says: "Here we have to be absolutely careful that such events do not result in orders that are also awarded directly with the help of the Bundeswehr Procurement Acceleration Act." Their fear: The Ministry of Defense is not doing enough research to determine whether it has actually found the best product. Because not all companies and start-ups in the industry would have access to an event like “Mission-K”.
NGO calls for correct awarding of contracts
Transparency Germany also takes a critical view of such network events where the Bundeswehr and the defense industry come together. On the one hand, your armaments business expert, Peter Conze, says that it makes sense to combine the forces of industry and the Bundeswehr in a new area of responsibility such as space defense.
On the other hand, he points out that the number of arms companies in this area has so far been manageable. In an interview with the ARD capital studio, Conze therefore insists that the correct procedures are followed in the procurement process - and that the Bundestag's budget committee's control of new arms deals is thorough.
Ministry also wants to promote competition
When asked, the organizer of “Mission-K” made it clear that cooperation with the Ministry of Defense does not mean awarding contracts. And the ministry itself informs the ARD capital studio in writing: "To cover the needs of the armed forces, the BMVg fundamentally relies on competitive procurement in order to promote innovation, competition and thus economic efficiency. Procurement law aspects are fully taken into account at information and networking events."
“Mission-K” co-founder Kleinschmidt says that money is not the focus of the event. It's more about inventiveness and the fact that innovative space technology also comes from Germany - for once you don't have to look to the USA or China. "We should also celebrate the fact that we have the ability to solve our own problems here."
