SPOCK on the Germans' side

Space-based reconnaissance is key to effective defense and modern deterrence. To this end, the Bundeswehr is gaining a new, state-of-the-art, and high-performance tool in the form of the SAR Space System for Persistent Operational Tracking Level 1 reconnaissance satellite system—SPOCK 1 for short. SPOCK 1 provides reconnaissance imagery worldwide via radar satellites. This enables the early detection of enemy troop movements and force concentrations, thereby supporting the Bundeswehr’s land-based operations.

The project has been implemented without delays since its launch in February 2025. In the coming months, the satellite network will be further expanded, and additional analysis capabilities will be added. SPOCK 1 will achieve full operational capability next year.

SPOCK 1 complements the existing “strategic” satellite systems SAR-Lupe and SARah by consistently aligning reconnaissance with the requirements of operational command and control. Priority is given to rapid image delivery and short image refresh cycles, combined with automatic image analysis using AI. The start of SPOCK 1’s operational service on October 1, 2026, marked an important milestone for the 45th Armored Brigade stationed on NATO’s eastern flank in Lithuania.

From the perspective of the user, the Cyber and Information Domain (CIR) branch of the armed forces, SPOCK 1 represents a significant step forward: “SPOCK 1 made it possible to expand the Bundeswehr’s reconnaissance capabilities on very short notice. These capabilities are essential for protecting NATO’s eastern flank and the brigade in Lithuania, as they significantly shorten warning times. Thus, SPOCK 1 and the upcoming enhancements represent an important step forward for the capabilities of the CIR service branch as well as for the German government’s space security strategy,” said Major General Armin Fleischmann, Space Representative of the CIR Command.

The SPOCK 1 system is operated by Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions (RISS), a joint venture between Rheinmetall and the Finnish company ICEYE.