European officials fear that two Russian Inspector SIGINT satellites have intercepted data from over a dozen European spacecraft in geostationary orbit. These Russian craft, tied to the Luch program, have reportedly conducted close orbital maneuvers near critical satellites since 2022.

The concern centers on unencrypted command signals from legacy satellites, vulnerable due to outdated onboard systems. If recorded, this data could allow Moscow to spoof commands, disrupt navigation, or even force satellite deorbiting. The stakes are high in congested orbital slots where disruptions ripple across regions.

Fact: Geostationary orbit, roughly 22,236 miles above Earth, hosts over 500 active satellites, many of which lack modern cybersecurity defenses, making them susceptible to interception or spoofing.

Germany’s military confirmed the signals intelligence role of these Russian assets, emphasizing their potential for dual-use in surveillance and electronic warfare. European defense leaders now face mounting pressure to secure aging satellite fleets against state-backed space threats.