Pistorius emphasized the necessity of satellite communication for military operations, noting that existing launch facilities in Norway and the UK will soon be insufficient. While he did not specify a potential location for a German base, he acknowledged that discussions are in the preliminary stages. The minister highlighted Germany’s dense population as a limiting factor for establishing such facilities, as most European satellites are currently launched by the US company SpaceX. This announcement was broadcast on July 24, 2026, by Deutschlandfunk.