The agreement will see the two companies focus on closing gaps in the satellite and launch value chain at Andøya, located in northern Norway. The partnership aims to deliver regular commercial launch services alongside flexible, rapid-response capabilities from the European mainland.
A key component of the collaboration is the development of Tactical Responsive Launch services, designed to ensure secure and resilient satellite operations with faster reaction times.
The partnership is expected to play a crucial role in supporting the strategic military and civil space infrastructure of Germany, Norway, NATO allies and other key partners. Both firms say the arrangement will help bolster Europe’s strategic autonomy by increasing responsiveness, accelerating deployment of new capabilities and providing an operational edge in a volatile geopolitical environment.
Troels Sandreid, president of Andøya Spaceport, described the agreement as a milestone for Europe’s space sector.
“By bundling expertise and infrastructure, we are aiming to reinforce Europe’s ability to respond swiftly and securely to emerging civil and military space demands,” he said.
Rheinmetall Nordic AS chief executive Thomas Berge Nielsen said the collaboration would be a decisive factor in shaping the company’s offering across both civilian and defence markets.
“Looking at the development of European space capabilities, the collaboration with Andøya Space will be a decisive factor concerning our assortment for the civil and military sector. We are very much looking forward to working together,” he said.
The deal also represents a significant step in completing the “Andøya space value chain”, with both companies committing to develop advanced facilities and services on European soil. They say the combined offering will provide customers with state-of-the-art launch capabilities at a time when European governments are seeking greater resilience and independence in space.