The chief executive of satellite operator SES declared Monday that outer space has transformed into a critical military battlefield where nations are racing to establish dominance across all orbital levels.
Adel Al-Saleh made these remarks during a company earnings call as SES stock climbed 4%, part of a broader surge in European defense-related investments amid growing Middle East tensions.
Investment analysts from Citi noted that defense investors are increasingly focused on orbital missile defense technologies, including President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome program, as regional conflicts expand.
Al-Saleh emphasized that modern military operations depend heavily on instantaneous intelligence sharing between defense units. He pointed to France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle as a prime example, noting how the vessel commanded a multi-ship Pacific mission last year using SES satellite communication networks.
“Space is now a war-fighting domain,” Al-Saleh told investors, explaining that military leaders now view space capabilities with the same strategic importance as air dominance, maritime strength, or cyber warfare defense.
The SES executive highlighted his company’s competitive advantage in providing secure network “slices” that give governments complete operational control, a service that aligns with Europe’s increasing desire for strategic independence.
“There is an acceleration across all nations around the world, especially the United States and the European Union, to build up these capabilities at scale,” Al-Saleh explained.
He noted that European countries now consider space technology essential for meeting NATO defense spending requirements, particularly as they work to develop autonomous military capabilities.
“The outlook is positive and is accelerated with conflicts,” Al-Saleh stated, while noting that even without active conflicts, developing independent space capabilities remains a top priority for numerous countries.
Looking ahead, SES plans extensive vertical integration to “take control over some of the supply chains that are critical for innovation,” focusing on dual-purpose satellites that combine both military and commercial functions.
