The Next Battlefield Is Space—So Australia and Germany Are Ready to Track Russia and China

Australia and Germany have agreed to deepen cooperation in space surveillance, signing a letter of intent aimed at strengthening their ability to monitor the activities of rival powers in orbit, according to the Australian Government Press Service on March 26.

The agreement outlines plans to expand joint efforts in tracking objects and operations in space, with a focus on improving awareness of actions by third countries.

Speaking at a joint press conference, officials from both countries highlighted growing concerns over the expanding offensive capabilities of China and Russia in space. These include the ability to jam communications, blind satellites, or potentially destroy them.

In response, Australia and Germany announced plans to develop an independent global network of sensors designed to function as an early warning system for their space infrastructure.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius emphasized the urgency of the initiative, noting that China and Russia are effectively “direct neighbors” in space, underscoring the need for independent monitoring capabilities.

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The announcement came during Pistorius’ visit to Australia—his first in eight years—signaling a broader strengthening of bilateral ties between the two countries.

In addition to space cooperation, the two sides also discussed a potential Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and expanded collaboration in the defense industry.

Earlier, Russia launched the first batch of satellites for its “Rassvet” broadband internet system, a project widely described as a domestic alternative to Elon Musk’s Starlink—with growing indications it may serve military needs.

Despite the milestone, experts say the current deployment is far from sufficient to compete with Starlink, which operates thousands of satellites.

Space analyst Vitaly Egorov noted that while the project was initially intended for civilian use—such as providing connectivity for airlines and rail networks—its strategic value has shifted.

Following restrictions on Russian military access to Starlink, the need for a domestic satellite communications network has become more urgent, he said.

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