EU announced that on January 23 it signed two contracts with an equal number of consortia, led by Telespazio and OHB, to study the possible use of the Copernicus satellite network for defense purposes. The two contracts were signed within the framework of the EOGS (Earth Observation Governmental Service) program, which aims to strengthen the defense of European countries. The duration of the contracts is 12 months. The work will start in the first quarter of 2024 and apart from the study should be accompanied by proposals for the creation of a satellite network for reconnaissance missions. The proposals of the two studies will be submitted for acceptance and implementation in the period 2028-2034. The Copernicus program is specifically designed to meet user requirements. Through satellite and ground-based observations, Copernicus services provide near-real-time global-level data, which can also be used to meet local and regional needs. The provision of Copernicus services is based on the processing of environmental data collected by Earth observation satellites and ground sensors.
