Space, once a neutral environment for science, communication, and navigation, is rapidly becoming a zone of strategic confrontation.
On geostationary orbit, a quiet but extremely dangerous game is unfolding. Russian satellites Luch-1 (launched in 2014) and Luch-2 (March 2023) are exhibiting behavior that can no longer be explained by civilian or scientific purposes. According to data from Slingshot Aerospace, since its launch, Luch-2 has maneuvered to approach at least seventeen European and commercial satellites, including key Intelsat assets.
This is not just observation. It is a systematic SIGINT campaign. Major General Michael Traut, commander of the Bundeswehr's Space Command, has explicitly stated that these satellites are suspected of intercepting unencrypted command signals between ground stations and satellites. The goal is not only intelligence gathering but also the potential for interference—from temporary "blinding" to orbital manipulation.
As of February 2026, Luch-2 is in close proximity to Intelsat 39 (62°E), one of the main communication hubs for Europe and Africa. Its maneuvers are predictable and methodical: it slows its drift to linger near a target for days or weeks before moving on to the next.
This is a new form of war. It doesn't require explosions. It's enough to create the threat of a collision or disrupt a few critical nodes to paralyze military communications, financial infrastructure, and navigation systems across a continent.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has already warned that Russia and China are actively developing their anti-satellite (ASAT) capabilities, including both kinetic and electronic warfare tools.
In response, Germany is investing €35 billion in creating its own constellation of over 100 military satellites equipped with lasers and defense systems. But the main challenge is the lack of rules. Space remains the last "wild" territory where actions can be masked as technical anomalies.
Today, it has become the hand that can turn off the lights.
*«The soldier who consumes less power survives.»*
In space, this rule sounds different:
**«The satellite that can get closer without being seen wins.»**
SOURCES & REFERENCES
— The Control Stack
#SpaceWar #SIGINT #Luch2 #OrbitalTension #ASAT
