EU tests its response mechanism to space threats

From 6 to 10 March 2023, the EU conducted the Space Threat Response Architecture (STRA) 2023 exercise at the European External Action Service (EEAS) Headquarters in Brussels followed by a table-top discussion in the Political and Security Committee.

The STRA exercise is a yearly exercise to test and enhance the EU´s response to threats to the systems and services deployed under the various components of the EU Space Programme. It builds on a scenario, which reflects the complexity of the current geopolitical landscape and emerging hybrid threats, ranging from cyber-attacks on space and ground segments to spoofing or jamming satellite signals, as well as disinformation campaigns.

EU adopts space-based connectivity programme

During the STRA 2023 exercise, the EU´s space threat response mechanism was triggered by a cyber-security incident affecting Galileo. The incident was activated in EEAS HQ and involved key political, diplomatic, and operational actors including Member States, the EEAS, the EU Space Programme Agency (EUSPA/Galileo Security Monitoring Centre), the Commission and the Council of the European Union. Italy and Spain as Galileo host nations activated their chain of command, involving appropriate national capabilities to address the incident and providing support to digital forensics and critical infrastructure protection measures.

As a continuation of the STRA 2023 exercise, on 15 March 2023, the Political and Security Committee (PSC) played a table-top exercise on space threats for the first time in this kind of exercises. The PSC explored the EU response to an incident in space affecting EU satellite and the potential activation of the EU mutual assistance clause [article 42(7) TEU] for a space incident.

The Strategic Compass calls for the need to better secure the EU’s access to strategic domains such as space. These exercises help build a strategic culture of space security and defence, which will be key to implement the objectives of the recently adopted EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence.

The STRA 2023 exercise was organised by the EEAS in coordination with Member States, EUSPA and the Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) at the European Commission.

More information: European Union External Action Service