Cybersecurity

Germany creates cybersecurity squads, allocates funds for new spy satellite

Germany is beefing up its cybersecurity capabilities under a new strategy approved this week. Federal services will create a new cyber response force across German law enforcement agencies. Berlin has also allocated financing for a new spy satellite.

On Thursday a number of German news outlets reported that the country’s foreign intelligence agency, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), will soon receive its own espionage satellite after the Budget Committee approved the first tranche of financing for the project this week.

According to reports, the project, proposed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, would cost around €400 million ($435.32 million) and is expected to be ready by 2022. The BND wants to develop the satellite system using the German army (Bundeswehr) and the German Aerospace Center, with an additional 400 new employees appointed to the spy agency to run the new project.