German Defence Minister: Russian satellites track satellites used by German armed forces

(Patria) - German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius warned on Thursday of the growing threat posed by Russian activities in space, highlighting concerns about two Russian satellites that track satellites of the company Intelsat, which are used by the German armed forces and other partners.

“Russia and China have rapidly expanded their space warfare capabilities in recent years: they can jam satellites, blind them, manipulate them, or destroy them kinetically,” Pistorius said at a space conference in Berlin.

He emphasised the need for discussions on developing offensive capabilities in space as a means of deterrence, pointing to the case of Russian Luch Olymp satellites tracking Intelsat satellites.

Pistorius stressed that space is increasingly turning into a new strategic battlefield and warned that European countries must be prepared for the challenges posed by such dynamics, Reuters reports.