The EU will commission three studies to bolster Europe’s resilience in space.

The European Commission is seeking proposals to advance its understanding and explore future European launch capabilities under a new pilot project announced by the organisation on 14 July.

Totalling EUR1.95 million, the project aims to improve Europe’s capacity for rapid satellite deployment and strategic autonomy in space.

Three concurrent studies will be launched under the project, dubbed ‘Mobile Responsive Launch Systems’. Industry is invited to submit proposals to help identify needs, propose technical and organisational solutions, and map out a path towards operational services.

The project will be managed by the Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) according to a separate document detailing the project.

Studies conducted will explore the solutions and services available, with one key objective being to identify the “commercial and institutional needs for responsive launch systems in the EU, including for security and defence purposes”.

Other key objectives include identifying and defining suitable and affordable solutions for the launch systems and highlighting the necessary steps towards operational services.

Involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises is “highly encouraged” in the studies, the DG DEFIS said.

Ultimately, operational launch systems need to be capable of delivering “targeted orbital deployments within short timeframes, from diverse locations, including through mobile platforms”.

“Such capabilities would enable the timely replacement of failed or compromised satellites, as well as the proactive deployment of payloads in response to crises or emerging threats”, the DG DEFIS added.

These satellite deployment capabilities would strengthen the resilience and continuity of European space services, the DG DEFIS said, while also improving the EU’s ability to respond to an increasingly unpredictable strategic environment.

“Faced with an ever-increasing number of threats, both natural and man-made, the European Union must be able to rely on sovereign resources to maintain access to orbit, ensure the continuity of its critical services, and react in the event of an emergency. In this context, responsiveness is an imperative”, the commission said.

Deadline for the receipt of tenders for this project is the 22 September, with the maximum contract duration set at 10 months.

DSEI Gateway News is part of DSEI UK and the broader Clarion Defence portfolio. 
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