Spire has opened a new satellite manufacturing facility in Munich the company says has the capacity to produce up to 100 satellites per year. The facility is designed for end-to-end satellite manufacturing, including integration, testing, and mission-specific payload development, including an ISO-certified clean room and vertically integrated infrastructure.
Initially, this facility will be focused on the EURIALO project to build a satellite-based aircraft surveillance system. EURIALO, which is supported by the European Space Agency, is focused on developing aircraft geolocation capabilities that are independent of GNSS using satellites to detect and process radio frequency (RF) emissions from aircraft. Spire is the prime contractor and was awarded the contract in 2023.
Spire opened an office in Munich after the EURIALO award in 2023, and now opens its manufacturing facility there with the Thursday announcement.
Spire Global CEO Theresa Condor said this facility is a move to strengthen the sovereign space capabilities in Germany.
“By combining satellite manufacturing with Spire’s proven RF geolocation capabilities, we are enabling a new class of responsive space-based intelligence systems that can be integrated into national and European security frameworks while expanding our industrial footprint to support the growing demand for space-based intelligence solutions,” Condor said in a statement.
This investment from Spire comes amid a ramp-up in space and defense spending in Germany. Germany has a target to invest 35 billion euro in space defense capabilities by 2030 including satellite constellations, ground stations, launch capabilities, and services for reconnaissance, communication, and protection.
