ESA Greenlights $1.6 Billion for New Space Security Initiative

The European Space Agency has approved a historic €1.35 billion ($1.6 billion) three-year budget that includes its first-ever dedicated funding for space defense initiatives. The European Resilience from Space program marks a significant policy shift for the traditionally civilian-focused agency, reflecting growing European concerns about space system threats and technological dependence. The broader €22 billion ESA budget also prioritizes launch services, with substantial investment in Ariane 6, Vega-C, and commercial launcher development to compete with SpaceX’s market dominance.