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NATO expands space ambitions for faster launches and wider surveillance
NATO expands space ambitions for faster launches and wider surveillance
Efosa UdinmwenMon, July 20, 2026 at 9:10 PM UTC2 min readAdd Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.Key takeawaysPowered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.- NATO plans to build a shared satellite constellation called HALO to enhance military communications and missile tracking among eight member nations.
- HALO aims to connect national satellite systems while allowing countries to retain ownership and control, addressing vulnerabilities to cyberattacks, jamming, and physical destruction.
- The HALO project is part of a broader effort to strengthen allied space infrastructure, with separate commitments from Canada, Spain, and Turkey to expand launch capabilities, surveillance, and regional space assets.
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NATO wants eight allies to share satellite power without surrendering national control
HALO aims to connect military satellites for faster communications and missile tracking
NATO says isolated satellite fleets remain vulnerable to jamming, cyberattacks, and destruction
NATO has confirmed plans to build a shared satellite constellation designed to strengthen military communications, surveillance and missile tracking across the alliance.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe initiative, dubbed HALO, was unveiled at the recent NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara, brings together eight member nations under a single space framework.
Denmark, Canada, Finland, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and Turkey have all agreed to take part in this emerging space project.
NATO seeks a more resilient military space network
HALO, Hybrid Alliance Layered Operations in Space, is intended to link national satellite systems while allowing participating countries to retain ownership and control.
Officials say individual satellite constellations run independently by member countries remain vulnerable to cyberattacks, jamming and physical destruction during conflict.
AdvertisementAdvertisementNATO Deputy Secretary-General Radmila Šekerinska said such fragmented systems are also too slow to relay large volumes of data effectively.
"So this new model will be particularly helpful for high-speed communications, intelligence and missile tracking, overcoming the cost, the time and coverage limitations of single-nation satellite fleets," she added.
HALO is therefore intended to improve how allied space assets work together during military operations.
The project could also allow NATO members to combine national capabilities without creating a single satellite fleet controlled by one country.
AdvertisementAdvertisement"I'm really pleased to announce…HALO, opening a new chapter in allied space operations," Šekerinska said.
Canada and other allies expand space commitments
The announcement came alongside several other space-related commitments made during the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara.
Canada became the 15th NATO member to join STARLIFT, a multinational initiative examining launch capabilities for quickly sending allied assets into orbit.
The programme seeks to develop access to launch services from spaceports across the alliance, potentially giving NATO members more options when deploying satellites at short notice.
The effort is separate from HALO but reflects the broader push to strengthen allied space infrastructure.
AdvertisementAdvertisementSpain also became the 19th country to join NATO's Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space initiative, pledging to support coastal surveillance through imagery supplied by its Atlantic Constellation satellites.
Turkey, meanwhile, announced plans to develop two additional high-resolution satellites intended to expand regional space capabilities.
These separate commitments show how NATO members are pursuing both shared networks and national systems at the same time.
HALO remains at the exploratory stage, meaning the participating allies have not yet established a final constellation design, deployment schedule or confirmed satellite count.
AdvertisementAdvertisementIts success will depend on whether different national systems can share data securely while maintaining sovereign control.