A dark shadow is falling over our skies. World leaders, more and more of them, are no longer just dreaming of space forces – they are planning their concrete creation. The grim prediction made by defense and space technology experts gathered in Helsinki last week echoed ominously: the next great war will no longer be limited to land, sea or air – it will extend into the merciless void of space. Even NATO, the last bastion of our security, recognizes this growing threat and is putting space security higher and higher on the decision-making agenda.
Daniel Hilgert of NATO headquarters painted a dark picture of the future: “The first, insidious steps of future conflicts are already being taken in cyberspace and above us, in space.” This statement is not mere speculation, but cold, hard reality. NATO countries are now, with Hilgert’s warning tone, in a position to forge ever closer ties with commercial actors operating in space.
“When war breaks out, we need to know how the space technology industry works,” he stressed. This is no longer an exercise – it is a matter of life and death. In critical war situations, allies must be able to rely on commercial satellites to relay vital information. At the same time, commercial actors must understand the logic of military operations so that they can act as part of this new, frightening reality.
Hilgert’s words echoed ominously: “Everything that happens in space is directly connected to our societies and economies. Every credit card transaction, every bank transfer, every internet connection – it all goes through satellites.” Our space infrastructure, that invisible but vital network, now requires protection just as much as our underground cables, our energy grids or our water distribution systems. But how do we protect something that is so vast and vulnerable?
Experts attending the meeting in Helsinki, including Pekka Laurila, strategy director at Finnish SAR radar satellite manufacturer Iceye, highlighted a harsh truth: space infrastructure is not designed to withstand war. Just as undersea data cables are not intended to be battlefields, satellites are not built with hostile attacks in mind. According to Laurila, the only protection against the threat is decentralization – launching multiple satellites so that we are not at the mercy of a single one. Iceye has already launched 44 satellites, but is that enough when the other side is prepared to wage “kinetic warfare” in space? Laurila’s words left a cold question in the air: “If someone wants to wage kinetic war, space is not out of the question.”
Investments in durable satellite structures are not small – we are talking about hundreds of millions to billions of euros. Laurila’s disconsolate words “for the price of a few fighters you can get a lot” only emphasize the magnitude of the threat. The price of one fighter can be as high as 100 million euros. While countries struggle with their traditional defense budgets, they must now prepare for a new, expensive arms race in space.
Reorbit founder and CEO Sethu Saveda Suvanam made a grim prediction: “In 15–20 years, war will be fought through space, it is a reality.” According to him, Russia’s aggressive activities in space have increased alarmingly. Dozens of countries have already begun to integrate space infrastructure into their own defense systems, directly or indirectly.
Suvanam compared satellites to the F35 fighter jets of the future, painting a picture of space as a new, dangerous battlefield. Independent states no longer want to be completely dependent on the satellite systems of the great powers, as Ukraine’s experience with Elon Musk’s Starlink has shown the risks of dependence.
The race to space has already begun, and it is accelerating day by day. “The space environment is completely different from just a few years ago,” Suvanam stated seriously. Satellite intelligence is becoming an everyday occurrence in warfare. NATO’s Hilgert acknowledged the critical role of companies like Iceye, which exposed Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, in space.
Pekka Laurila from Iceye confirmed that satellite intelligence was irreplaceable for the Ukrainians. “Satellite intelligence is increasingly central and more everyday in warfare,” he said. At the same time, the US’s earlier announcement that it would stop providing intelligence to Ukraine cast a dark shadow over the future.
Space is becoming a new, terrifying front. The world stands on the threshold of a new, unknown war, with the infinite expanse of space as its battlefield. Is humanity ready for this grim future? The answer lies waiting, etched in the interstellar darkness.
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