The European Space Agency is advancing an integrated space-security architecture as Europe prepares for critical funding decisions at the EU and ESA levels. At a high-level event in Brussels, ESA outlined the European Resilience from Space programme, an optional initiative set to open for Member State subscriptions at the ESA Ministerial Council in Bremen on 26–27 November 2025.
What ESA is proposing
The programme is designed as a system-of-systems to fuse sensing, navigation and communications into a responsive security framework. The proposed architecture would combine:
- Earth observation remote sensing
- Secure connectivity and communications
- PNT (positioning, navigation and timing)
- Spectrum monitoring
- Internet of Things links
By integrating these capabilities, ESA aims to enable rapid tasking, data fusion and secure distribution to civil and security users, supporting crisis response, resilience and operational autonomy.
Bridge to EU Earth Observation Governmental Service
The initiative constitutes the first programmatic pillar supporting the EU’s future Earth Observation Governmental Service (EOGS). EOGS is intended to deliver highly reactive, dual-use and independent space-based Earth observation data, products and services for European governmental users.
Coordination and governance
The Brussels event emphasized synchronising European space-for-security efforts, reducing duplication and pooling resources. ESA’s Directorates of Earth Observation and of Connectivity and Secure Communications are central to the proposal, with participation from national space agencies of France, Switzerland, Poland and Denmark, alongside EU-level representatives.
Funding calendar and next steps
The forthcoming EU Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034 is expected to further define the role of space in European security, complementing ESA Member State commitments anticipated at the Ministerial Council in Bremen. The event follows the 3rd ESA Security Conference held in Warsaw in April 2025, reflecting sustained momentum toward a cohesive European space-security posture.
Key milestones to watch include Member State subscription levels in November, the scope of initial definition phases, and how interfaces across observation, communications, PNT, spectrum monitoring and IoT are standardised for secure, rapid operations. Source: ESA corporate news release.
