Andøya Space and Rheinmetall Nordic AS have formed a strategic partnership to enhance capabilities for both civil and military space operations. The collaboration, formalized through a Letter of Intent (LOI), aims to address growing security needs in Europe by providing rapid deployment of satellites and other space assets.
The partnership will focus on strengthening the satellite and launch infrastructure at the Andøya Spaceport in Norway. This includes establishing regular commercial launch services and developing a flexible, rapid-response capability directly from the European mainland. A key component of this alliance will be the development of Tactical Responsive Launch (TacRL) capabilities, designed to ensure secure and resilient satellite operations with expedited reaction times.
This initiative is intended to support the strategic space infrastructure of Germany, Norway, NATO member states, and other allied nations. Both companies state that the partnership will contribute to strategic autonomy, increased responsiveness, and faster deployment of new space-based capabilities in the current geopolitical environment.
A military history enthusiast, Richard began his career at Forecast International as editor of the World Weapons Weekly newsletter. As the Internet became central to defense research, he helped design the company’s Forecast Intelligence Center and now coordinates the FI Market Recap newsletters for clients. He also manages two blogs: Defense & Security Monitor, which covers defense systems and international security issues, and Flight Plan, focused on commercial aviation and space systems.
For more than 30 years, Richard has authored Defense & Aerospace Companies, Volume I (North America) and Volume II (International), providing detailed data on major aerospace and defense contractors. He also edits the International Contractors service, a database tracking all companies involved in programs covered by the FI library. Richard currently serves as Manager of the Information Services Group (ISG), which develops outbound content for both Forecast International and Military Periscope.
