Mission-K

On the second day of the Mission-K conference, defence speakers urged European militaries to deliver tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance from space, arguing the war in Ukraine has shown how vital rapid satellite-based situational awareness is for frontline forces. Discussion centred on three defence challenges: speeding up acquisition, building resilient satellite constellations, and tightening cooperation between governments and commercial space firms.

Mission-K 2026 is set to take place in Kalkar, Germany, drawing Europe's space and defence community to an unusual venue. The town is known for its former nuclear power plant turned leisure complex, giving the event a striking backdrop. Organisers are positioning the gathering at the intersection of European security policy and the space industry.