Research Program 8 - Space
Research in the area of outer space aims to ensure the demand and capability-based development, preservation and further expansion of the necessary scientific and technological competencies in the operative area of space travel or within the framework of possible alternatives. This includes applications in the areas space situational awareness, precision navigation, information gathering and communications. Particular focus is on the overall view of space, whereby it is important to act as a central point for aspects of space and to aggregate the results of various programmes and activities to combine them into an overall picture for the domain of operations of space.
Operational capabilities of the Swiss Armed Forces
The Swiss Armed Forces are developing operational capabilities in the space domain
The focus is on:
- Operational picture (Space Situational Awareness (SSA))
- Earth observation (imagery intelligence (IMINT) – OPT/RAD; electronic intelligence (ELINT))
- Telecommunications (SATCOM)
- Precision navigation (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT))
- Countermeasures (Defensive Counterspace, DCS)
To this end, the Department of Defense has initiated the FAWEL 1 (Space Capability Development Phase 1) procurement project, led by armasuisse Procurement, and has requested 30 million Swiss francs from Parliament for the first phase of development. The Army aims to use this to improve its space situational awareness and strengthen intelligence gathering and telecommunications. At the heart of FAWEL 1 is the “ALPSTAR” project, part of the ESA’s European Resilience from Space (ERS) program. ALPSTAR is intended to create new dual-use capabilities in the field of space-based reconnaissance through a network of ground stations, as well as through the sharing and joint use of national satellites.
You can find more information here. (in German)
Space area of activity
As the technology center of the Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection, and Sports (DDPS), armasuisse Science and Technology also focuses on space. Within the Space Research Program, staff develop the necessary scientific and technological foundations to enable the Armed Forces to make strategic decisions in the space domain in a way that minimizes risk and is future-oriented. The Space Research Program focuses on technologies at early maturity levels (up to Technology Readiness Level TRL 5) and investigates new and novel technologies and the resulting potential. The focus also includes transfer innovations, synergy effects, knowledge integration, as well as technological trends and their implications for the armed forces. The research program does not pursue product development or complete missions, but rather identifies possibilities through demonstrators and feasibility studies.
As part of COREB, activities are planned in the areas of space, energy, cybersecurity (particularly in the context of airfields and aviation systems), and drones. COREB (Communauté régionale de la Broye) is a strategic regional development organization committed to transforming the Broye region into a center of innovation for defense, aerospace, and technology.
Network
A wide network of partners from the professional world, academia, universities and other research institutes in Switzerland and abroad is actively used and maintained in order to develop expertise. In order to keep track of skills and capabilities, close contact and an exchange of information is maintained with users and the planning, procurement and test centres of the DDPS.
Contact
