Airbus, Rheinmetall, and OHB are rapidly forming or expanding three separate consortia and cooperative ventures to bid on “Spock 2,” the satellite reconnaissance project commissioned by the German Armed Forces. According to the publication Handelsblatt, citing four industry insiders, all three companies have chosen to integrate various German start-ups and medium-sized enterprises into their bids, which is noted as a relatively unconventional strategy. These expansions and new consortium formations are scheduled to be officially announced during the current International Air Transport Exhibition (ILA) in Berlin.
The project in question is the “Spock” space initiative of the Bundeswehr, which stands for “Spacesystem for persistent operational tracking.” It involves developing a cutting-edge satellite system equipped with radar and specialized cameras designed to provide military personnel with highly accurate battlefield situational awareness. The estimated contract value for the entire project is approximately five billion Euros.
