European firms launch intelligence satellite as Poland leads EU defense space simulator project

European firms and institutions are advancing space and defense technologies to bolster the continent’s strategic autonomy.
Rheinmetall Italia, a subsidiary of German defense group Rheinmetall, and Italian space firm Argotec launched a satellite from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The satellite, part of a new-generation space infrastructure, will focus on collecting intelligence data rather than conventional ground mapping, according to Argotec CEO David Avino. The program aims to provide near-real-time information to support decision-makers, contributing to technological sovereignty and a resilient, networked reconnaissance system, Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG, said .
Poland’s GMV is also playing a key role in Europe’s defense-focused space capabilities. The company’s Polish and Spanish divisions will develop an end-to-end simulator for the European Commission’s Earth Observation Governmental Service (EOGS), a system designed to give EU member states independent access to satellite data for defense purposes. The €1 million contract, part of the European Space Agency’s European Resilience from Space for Earth Observation Programme, will enable the design, construction, and deployment of EOGS, with Polish engineers leading software module development and integration. Paweł Wojtkiewicz, GMV’s space sector director in Poland, stated the project demonstrates Poland’s expertise in strategic European solutions .
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