Great opportunities for Swedish industry as the EU invests in satellite communications

New Republic Insight #12

Great opportunities for Swedish industry as the EU invests in satellite communications

Satellite communications have become a critical part of both civilian and military systems. Experience from Ukraine has made it clear that stable connections can be crucial for everything from government communications to field operations. At the same time, Ukraine and parts of Europe's military and civilian communications are currently heavily dependent on Starlink, a private American company owned by Elon Musk. This could create strategic vulnerability when Europe is left at the mercy of a commercial player.

At the Munich Security Conference 2025, satellite communications were highlighted in a broader security perspective: Europe's technological dependencies risk reducing our freedom of action and resilience. It is in this context that the EU's Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²) initiative has emerged, with the aim of creating its own satellite architecture for secure, robust, and redundant communications.

For Swedish industry, this development represents a window of opportunity. For more than 70 years, the Swedish defense industry has built up leading technology at sea, in the air, and on land. Today, Sweden has a broad and technologically advanced ecosystem in space and communications technology—from antennas and stabilization platforms to sensors and signal processing. Several Swedish companies, such as the world-leading Ericsson, are already participating in international programs and supplying technology that is used in both civilian and security-critical contexts.

This gives Sweden a role that is more than just a partner: we can be a driving force as Europe builds up its own satellite communications capability. From technical expertise to industrial capacity, many of the components that Europe needs – from technical expertise to industrial capacity – are already here in Sweden.

Ahead of the 2026 Munich Security Conference, one question is therefore becoming increasingly central: what is required of Swedish politics and the defense industry for Sweden to take a leading role in building Europe's next generation of satellite communications?

Eric Johansson

Consultant, Tech & Preparedness