- NATO wants eight allies to share satellite power without giving up national control
- HALO aims to connect military satellites for faster communications and missile tracking
- NATO says isolated satellite fleets remain vulnerable to jamming, cyberattacks and destruction
NATO has confirmed plans to build a shared satellite constellation designed to strengthen military communications, surveillance and missile tracking across the alliance.
The initiative, called HALO, was launched at the recent NATO Defense Industry Forum Summit in Ankara and brings together eight member countries under a single space framework.
Denmark, Canada, Finland, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and Turkey have agreed to participate in this emerging space project.
NATO seeks a more resilient military space network
HALO, Hybrid Alliance Layered Operations in Space, aims to link national satellite systems while allowing participating countries to retain ownership and control.
Officials say individual satellite constellations independently managed by member countries remain vulnerable to cyberattacks, jamming and physical destruction during conflicts.
NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska said these fragmented systems are also too slow to transmit large volumes of data effectively.
“Therefore, this new model will be particularly useful for high-speed communications, intelligence and missile tracking, overcoming the cost, time and coverage limitations of single nation satellite fleets,” he added.
HALO therefore aims to improve the way allied space assets work together during military operations.
The project could also allow NATO members to combine national capabilities without creating a single satellite fleet controlled by one country.
“I am very pleased to announce…HALO, which opens a new chapter in allied space operations,” said Šekerinska.
Canada and other allies expand space commitments
The announcement came alongside several other space-related commitments made during the NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum in Ankara.
Canada became the 15th NATO member to join STARLIFT, a multinational initiative examining launch capabilities to rapidly send allied assets to orbit.
The program seeks to develop access to launch services from spaceports across the alliance, which could give NATO members more options when deploying satellites at short notice.
The effort is independent of HALO, but reflects a broader push to strengthen allied space infrastructure.
Spain also became the nineteenth country to join the NATO Alliance’s Persistent Surveillance from Space initiative, committing to support coastal surveillance through images provided by its Atlantic Constellation satellites.
Meanwhile, Türkiye announced plans to develop two additional high-resolution satellites aimed at expanding regional space capabilities.
These separate commitments show how NATO members pursue shared networks and national systems at the same time.
HALO remains in the exploratory stage, meaning participating allies have not yet established a final constellation design, deployment schedule, or confirmed satellite count.
Its success will depend on whether different national systems can securely share data while maintaining sovereign control.
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