For years, space was the quiet, technical cousin of defence policy. That separation no longer exists—and few companies illustrate the change more clearly than OHB.

The Bremen‑based satellite manufacturer is sitting on the largest order backlog in its history. With confirmed orders exceeding €3 billion, OHB has never been busier, and defence is becoming an increasingly central pillar of its business. According to the company, the “Defense” segment now accounts for around 24 percent of total revenue—more than double its share a decade ago—and management expects that proportion to continue rising.

The reason is geopolitical reality.

“We are experiencing turbulent times for the space industry,” said CEO Marco Fuchs at the company’s annual press conference. Governments, he noted, are now taking space far more seriously. “The major issue is defence capability in space. That defines the framework for our growth prospects.”

Space systems have become operational infrastructure. Satellites enable communication, navigation, reconnaissance, and real‑time data exchange—capabilities that directly shape outcomes on the battlefield. Recent attention on the role of commercial satellite networks in modern conflicts has only reinforced that lesson.

Against this backdrop, OHB is positioning itself at the centre of one of Germany’s most ambitious defence projects: a sovereign satellite communication system for the Bundeswehr. The initiative, known as SATCOMBw Stage 4, aims to deploy a constellation of 100 to 200 satellites in low Earth orbit to provide secure, independent military communications by the end of the decade.

The project has attracted extraordinary industrial interest. Rather than competing head‑to‑head, Airbus Defence and Space, Rheinmetall, and OHB are now planning to bid together as a consortium. The move reflects the scale and urgency of the programme, which is expected to be worth between €8 billion and €10 billion and is widely described as Germany’s answer to Starlink—albeit on a smaller, military‑focused scale.

For OHB, the logic is clear. The company would contribute its core expertise in satellite design and manufacturing, while Rheinmetall would bring systems integration and military domain knowledge. Airbus adds large‑scale space infrastructure experience. Together, the trio could deliver the Bundeswehr a fully sovereign, domestically produced space architecture.

Production location matters. Fuchs has made clear that systems developed for the German Ministry of Defence should be built in Germany. In military space, industrial sovereignty is not a slogan—it is a requirement.

The political tailwinds are strong. In September 2025, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced plans to invest €35 billion in space security by 2030, covering both defensive and offensive capabilities. The strategy envisions a resilient architecture of satellite constellations, ground stations, and secured launch capacities—an acknowledgement that space is now a contested domain alongside land, sea, air, and cyber.

For OHB, this shift comes with a cultural change. “We used to hide defence,” Fuchs admitted. “Now we approach it with much more confidence.” That evolution mirrors a broader reassessment within Germany’s industrial landscape, where defence‑related activity is increasingly framed as strategic necessity rather than political liability.

The financial markets have taken note. OHB’s share price has risen sharply over recent months, driven not by consumer demand or commercial launches, but by defence‑led growth expectations. The irony is not lost on management: success is tied to global instability.

Yet the transformation appears structural rather than cyclical. As military operations become ever more data‑driven, satellites are no longer supporting assets—they are command nodes. Whoever controls the flow of information in orbit controls the tempo on the ground.

OHB’s record backlog is therefore more than a business milestone. It is a marker of how warfare, industry, and space policy are converging. Germany’s rearmament is no longer confined to factories and barracks. It now extends hundreds of kilometres above the Earth.

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