On Tuesday (7 July), NATO Allies opened a new chapter in Allied space operations, with multinational initiatives and partnerships to develop new space-based capabilities.
At the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara, eight Allies also launched a new multinational initiative named HALO - Hybrid Alliance Layered Operations in Space. HALO will focus on improving connectivity and integration of sovereign, nationally owned and controlled military satellites into a networked mega constellation. It aims to improve Alliance resilience and military advantage in space, enabling high-speed communications, intelligence and missile tracking. It will overcome the cost, time and coverage limitations of single-nation satellite fleets.
At the Forum, several Allies also announced significant contributions to defence in and from space. Canada became the 15th member of NATO's STARLIFT multinational initiative, which explores ways to develop a network of launch capabilities that will help Allies launch assets at short notice from spaceports across the Alliance. This will boost NATO's ability to react more quickly to threats from space. The German company Isar Aerospace also signed a contract with Canada's Maritime Launch Services to secure access the launch infrastructure and services at Spaceport Nova Scotia and improve its orbital launch readiness.
Spain became the 19th country to join NATO's Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space (APSS), the largest multinational investment in space-based capabilities in NATO's history. Spain will contribute by increasing coastal surveillance through imagery from its "Atlantic Constellation" satellites.
Following the success of the original IMECE Earth observation satellite, Türkiye announced an ambitious plan for the development of two additional high-resolution satellites to complement the robust space capabilities in the region. This is in addition to an investment into Low Orbital satellites for military communications and the development of Early Warning Radar Systems which will help keep Türkiye connected and secure on the battlefield.
