http://www.german-foreign-policy.com/ Newsletter 2009/03/06 -
World's Spy Champion
2009/03/06
GELSDORF
(Own report) - Having launched a new reconnaissance satellite-based system, the German Bundeswehr is celebrating its enhanced capacity for carrying out independent military operations. The SAR-Lupe system, which had achieved full operational capability at the end of 2008, has catapulted the German Armed Forces into a position of world leader in radar based reconnaissance, according to a high-ranking officer. With this "new instrument at its disposal" Berlin can "at its own political volition, gather exclusive and global data independently." This new reconnaissance capacity has drastically reduced its "dependence on other countries" in the field of security policy. Moscow played a key role in supporting the development of the satellite based system that will foster the trend toward independence from Washington. The spy satellites will not only provide information to the Bundeswehr but also to the foreign intelligence service. The images that can be retrieved by radar day or night and under any weather conditions will also be at the disposal of the Federal Office of Criminal Investigation.
Berlin-Moscow
The "space partnership" with Russia has enabled Germany to develop its reconnaissance satellite-based system. By giving technological support to the development of the German system, Moscow has intensified its cooperation with the German armed forces, in spite of the protests from neighboring states, particularly Poland.[1] In 2002, Germany concluded the development of the new reconnaissance satellite-based SAR-Lupe system and in 2003 an agreement to launch five German satellites into space was signed with the Russian arms export company Rosoboronexport. In December 2006, the first Bundeswehr reconnaissance satellite was placed into a low orbit at an altitude of around 500 km by a Russian launch vehicle from the Plesetsk space centre south of Arkhangelsk.[2] Over the following months, another four satellites were placed into orbit by Russian launch vehicles. With the launching of the last satellite at the end of July 2008 [3] the first German reconnaissance satellite-based system achieved its full operational capability. It is comprised of five identical small satellites and a ground control for managing the satellites and receiving and processing the radar images.
Close-Up Images Worldwide
According to its own indications, the SAR-Lupe system, based on a special radar technology (SAR: Synthetic Aperture Radar) that provides high definition images - in contrast to traditional optical systems - under any weather or light conditions, will, via satellite, enable the Bundeswehr to obtain information of the highest quality from nearly any spot on the globe - around the clock and under all weather conditions "without having to physically intrude onto the territory of other countries."[4] During its orbit around the earth, the satellite is sending and receiving thousands of radio waves, producing an image while scanning an object from various perspectives. The system has been given the term Lupe (magnifying glass) because it not only produces wide angle but also close-up views -like a magnifying glass. With a resolution of less than one meter, very small objects can be recognized with precision. In the framework of the planned European Reconnaissance System, images are already being exchanged with the French Helios II satellite system, using optical reconnaissance technology. Radar images and photos are complementing each other: radar offers independence from weather and time while optical sensors provide clearer images.
Top Position
Germany has become the third country in the world (after the USA and Russia) to deploy its own spatial radar reconnaissance. On the level of military policy, this new satellite based intelligence gathering places Germany on a par with other countries, and on the radar level, even in a top position, explained the Vice Inspector-General of the German Bundeswehr, Vizeadmiral Wolfram Kühn.[5] For the arms industry, Manfred Fuchs, CEO of the OHB System AG, the company in Bremen, charged with the project, says "Germany is world champion. There is no comparable system." According to the military, thanks to the SAR-Lupe, policy makers and the military are no longer in a situation of "dependance upon other nations." "This sort of radar system provides an instrument, which enables us, at our own political volition, to gather exclusive and global data independently, whenever we need it."[6]
Independence
This fosters the tendency toward becoming independent of Washington. At the time of the development of the European Galileo satellite navigation system, Berlin had declared that this should secure military "freedom of action" as well as make the EU more independent of US technology. Cooperation with Russia was also sought.[7] Finally the satellite based program of global reconnaissance, GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security), being setup under Berlin's leadership and considered the flagship of future EU spatial endeavors, will be used militarily and according to EU Commissioner, Günter Verheugen, will transform Europe into a "space power".[8]
In Operation
To operate the SAR-Lupe system, the Bundeswehr has established in the Command Center for Strategic Intelligence, the new "Satellite Supported Intelligence" (SGA) section, as an integral part of military communications. Ground control, where the satellites are managed and the transmitted data received and analyzed, is located in Gelsdorf in the vicinity of Bonn. In January 2007, the first images began arriving, but precision work could only begin once a second satellite was successfully set in operation in the third quarter of 2007. The ground control has been set to deliver round-the-clock current information since December 2007. In December 2008, the reconnaissance system was officially transferred to the armed forces.[9] German Bundeswehr units for example in Afghanistan, can now have access to situation imagery of the entire espionage satellite system, furnishing precise information about enemy activity in their immediate zone of operations.
Circle of Clients
The circle of clients is by no means limited to the military. That the system would naturally be used "also inter-departmentally," was already being said in 2002.[10] The commander for strategic intelligence, Brig. Gen. Friedrich Wilhelm Kriesel confirmed that "of course" other ministries can ask the defense department by way of "administrative assistance" for radar imagery. The foreign intelligence service, BND, already has a clearly regulated access to the new intelligence system. The Gelsdorf ground command is supposed to also furnish imagery to the interior. In June 2005, the Federal Office of Criminal Investigation (BKA) reached a cooperation agreement and wants spy photos from the satellites "for making threat analyses or for measures of police surveillance.[11] The spy satellites are, by definition, also among the "instruments" to be deployed in the European "combat against refugees".[12]
[1] see also Space Espionage, Richtige Richtung and Militärkooperation
[2] see also Gestartet
[3] Deutschlands erstes satellitengestütztes Aufklärungssystem SAR-Lupe ist komplett; www.dlr.de 22.07.2008
[4] Aufklärung aus dem All; http://www.streitkraeftebasis.de/
[5] SAR-Lupe übernommen; www.streitkraeftebasis.de 05.12.2008
[6] SAR-Lupe: Hightech made in Germany; www.streitkraeftebasis.de 21.12.2006
[7] see also Berlin: Europäische Satellitennavigation soll Militäreinsätze "gegen das Interesse der USA" ermöglichen and Krieg
[8] see also Krieg aus dem All and Keine Abstinenz
[9] SAR-Lupe übernommen; www.streitkraeftebasis.de 05.12.2008
[10] see also Verschmelzung
[11] see also With Military Means
[12] see also Weichenstellung and Auf Leben und Tod
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