U.S. satellite operator Spire Global and German defense systems house Diehl Defence have signed a memorandum of understanding at the ILA Berlin Airshow 2026 to jointly pursue space-based intelligence and early warning against ballistic and hypersonic missile threats. The agreement, announced June 10, gives Diehl Defence its first space-based product line and gives Spire a foothold in Germany's accelerating military space program.
From Sensor Stack To Weapons System
Under the MoU, the two companies will combine Spire's vertically integrated satellite operations — designing, manufacturing and flying its own multipurpose constellation — with Diehl Defence's decades of experience integrating air defense, guided missiles and command-and-control systems. "We are expanding our position as systems house, connecting intelligence from space to weapons systems and command centers," said Helmut Rauch, CEO of Diehl Defence. The framework allows the partners to advance a deeper collaboration covering ballistic and hypersonic threat detection and reconnaissance products.
Spire's Bet On German Sovereign Space
The deal lands as Spire ramps up European manufacturing. The company recently opened a satellite production facility in Taufkirchen near Munich with an ISO-certified cleanroom and capacity for up to 100 satellites per year — infrastructure tailor-made for sovereign German and EU space programs. "With Diehl Defence, we are combining Spire's vertically integrated expertise with decades of industrial defence experience to help strengthen security from space for Germany and Europe," said Spire CEO Theresa Condor.
Aligned With Berlin's Space Security Strategy
Diehl framed the partnership as "consistent with the German federal government's space security strategy, which calls for information superiority across offensive and defensive capabilities — including in the space domain." Germany has been steadily increasing its defense space budget since 2022, and ILA Berlin has become a stage for European industry to lock in sovereign capabilities rather than buy them off U.S. primes. Diehl used the same show to debut the IRIS-T air defense lineup alongside Airbus' U760 Ravenstorm UCCA and Helsing's CA-1EA electronic attack drone.
Building On Spire's European Push
The MoU broadens Spire's German strategy beyond commercial Earth observation. The company has already partnered with German bearings giant Schaeffler on sovereign European satellite platforms, and the Diehl deal adds a missile-warning pipeline that connects directly to NATO-grade end users. For both sides, the bet is the same: build the sovereign space stack now, before the next phase of European missile defense procurement closes.
Reporting based on coverage from BusinessWire, Diehl Defence and SpaceNews.