High-Ranking Space Force Commander in Europe Focuses on Building 'Shared Ground' with Allies and NATO
NATO Strengthens Space Capabilities: A Shift Towards Commercial Partnerships
The U.S. Space Force and Space Command are collaborating to bolster satellite defense efforts, particularly in the area of on-orbit defense. Meanwhile, NATO is actively enhancing its space capabilities, with a focus on innovation and commercial partnerships.
NATO's current space infrastructure includes the Combined Force Space Component Command and the NATO Space Operations Center, both established by 2024 and located at Allied Air Command. These institutions form the operational backbone for NATO's space activities. The alliance recognised space as an operational domain in 2019 and took steps towards building operational capacity with the establishment of the Space Operations Centre in Ramstein, Germany, in 2020.
One of the most significant developments is NATO's Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space program, a "virtual constellation" initiated in 2023. This program pools intelligence and surveillance data from national and commercial satellites to enhance collective space-based awareness. This marks a shift towards integrating commercial space innovations alongside traditional government systems.
In July 2025, NATO released its first-ever Commercial Space Strategy, acknowledging that the center of gravity in space innovation now lies predominantly in the commercial sector. The strategy emphasises flexible contracting, financing, and agreements with commercial providers to rapidly adapt and acquire space capabilities, reflecting a modernisation from slower, bureaucratic procurement models. This approach aligns with broader allied efforts to leverage commercial satellite constellations for defence and rapid capability development.
Looking ahead, the alliance is contemplating more ambitious space asset management, including the potential procurement and operation of its own space assets. However, the precise end-state structure and operational model for NATO’s space infrastructure are still under deliberation with no finalized vote or consensus as of mid-2025.
NATO continues to focus on education, training, and exercises with partners and allied entities, including U.S. Space Command, to enhance space operational readiness and integration. The goal is to build a resilient architecture of space assets for the U.S. and its allies to leverage, ensuring a robust defence against emerging space threats and supporting terrestrial operations.
Table: Current and Future Plans for NATO's Space Infrastructure
| Aspect | Current Status | Future Plans | |--------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------| | Space Infrastructure | Combined Force Space Component Command & NATO Space Operations Center at Allied Air Command (est. 2020-2024) | Defining final structure; ongoing work to integrate operations across members | | Operational Programs | Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space – pooling national/commercial data | Expand virtual constellation capabilities; possible asset procurement | | Commercial Space Strategy | Released July 2025 emphasising commercial partnerships, flexible contracting | Enhance speed and adaptability through commercial sector engagement | | Asset Procurement & Ownership | Not yet implemented; discussed potential ownership of space assets (2024) | May own/operate space platforms akin to airborne assets | | Training & Integration | Ongoing cooperation, including with U.S. Space Command | Continued training, exercises, and partner coordination |
These developments reflect NATO’s recognition of space as a critical operational domain and the need to build a resilient, versatile, and commercially integrated space posture. U.S. Space Forces Europe and Africa commander, Brig. Gen. Jacob Middleton, is waiting for NATO to finalise its approach to space before coordinating further with his team. Middleton emphasised that all countries, including allies, are important and bring beneficial contributions to the table. The operations center plans may involve separate centers, combined centers, or centers that bring in allies, ensuring an "allied by design" space infrastructure where countries contribute based on their own needs and resources to minimise duplication.
- The U.S. Space Force and Space Command partner to bolster on-orbit satellite defense, while NATO focuses on innovating and partnering with commercial entities for its space capabilities.
- The Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space program, initiated in 2023, pools data from national and commercial satellites to enhance collective space-based awareness.
- In July 2025, NATO released its Commercial Space Strategy, acknowledging the commercial sector as the primary source of space innovation and promoting rapid adaptation through commercial partnerships.
- Future plans for NATO's space infrastructure involve developing a resilient architecture of space assets, with ongoing cooperation and potential ownership of space assets similar to airborne assets.
- United States Space Forces Europe and Africa commander, Brig. Gen. Jacob Middleton, stresses the importance of allied contributions to a versatile and commercially integrated space posture, emphasizing an "allied by design" space infrastructure.
