In an evolving geopolitical landscape where security dynamics are increasingly interconnected across multiple domains, the European space sector finds itself at a critical juncture. A renewed political and financial mobilization is sweeping across the continent, aimed squarely at bolstering Europe’s strategic autonomy, technological independence, and operational resilience in orbit. As governments and policy-makers commit capital and resources to safeguard critical orbital infrastructure, the question of what role the industrial base must play in achieving these ambitions has taken center stage.
To explore these pressing themes, SpaceNews senior journalist Jason Rainbow sat down for an in-depth interview with Atle Woello, the chief executive officer and senior vice president of the space systems and surveillance business unit at Kongsberg NanoAvionics. The wide-ranging discussion, captured in the latest episode of the SpaceNews interview series, delves into the vital functions modern space assets fulfill for cross-domain defense systems and evaluates how European industrial capabilities can rise to meet the continent’s heightened demands for sovereign space capabilities.
The discourse arrives at a time when space is no longer viewed merely as an arena for scientific exploration or commercial telecommunications, but as a foundational pillar of national and regional security. Modern defense architectures increasingly rely on seamless data flow and connectivity bridging land, sea, air, cyber, and orbital domains. In this interconnected ecosystem, space-based assets serve as the backbone for situational awareness, secure communications, navigation, and persistent Earth observation. Woello and Rainbow unpack how these operational realities are reshaping the priorities of commercial suppliers and defense agencies alike, emphasizing that European manufacturers must be equipped to deliver reliable, scalable, and secure technologies tailored to these multidimensional threats.
Achieving true space sovereignty, however, requires more than political willpower and financial investment; it demands a robust, competitive, and deeply integrated industrial supply chain capable of designing, building, and deploying advanced space systems at scale. During the interview, Woello examines the readiness of the European industrial base to shoulder this responsibility. For years, Europe has boasted world-class scientific expertise and legacy aerospace primes, but the modern era of responsive space requires greater agility, commercial innovation, and streamlined production frameworks. Kongsberg NanoAvionics, known for its expertise in small satellite buses and subsystems, sits at the intersection of this industrial transformation, providing critical hardware and mission solutions that enable governments and commercial operators to deploy constellations with unprecedented speed and cost-effectiveness.
The dialogue highlights the intricate balance European industrial players must maintain. On one hand, companies must align with the rigorous security, reliability, and cryptographic standards demanded by defense applications. On the other hand, they must harness commercial off-the-shelf technologies and mass-production efficiencies to remain competitive in a rapidly accelerating global marketplace. Woello shares valuable perspectives on how European industrial policy can foster innovation without compromising security, ensuring that regional funding initiatives translate into tangible orbital capabilities that deter potential adversaries and protect critical infrastructure.
This episode of the SpaceNews interview series is brought to viewers with the support of episode sponsor Xiphos Systems, a prominent industry player with a long-standing history in aerospace computing. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Montreal, Xiphos Systems has established itself as a trusted developer of compact, high-performance embedded computing solutions specifically engineered for demanding spacecraft and aerospace environments. The company specializes in creating commercial off-the-shelf processing platforms tailored for space missions, uniquely integrating advanced processors, programmable logic, mass storage, high-speed networking, and radio frequency capabilities into low size, weight, power, and cost configurations.
Xiphos boasts an extensive product portfolio that includes specialized processor boards, onboard computers, advanced radio frequency payload systems, and artificial intelligence-capable computing platforms. These technological offerings are designed to serve a diverse array of applications, ranging from traditional Earth-observation and telecommunications satellites to complex launch vehicles, ambitious lunar exploration missions, and advanced orbital robotics. With over two decades of specialized operational experience and more than 1,000 processor cards successfully delivered to orbit and beyond, Xiphos works closely with its customers throughout the entire mission lifecycle. From early system integration through to final on-orbit deployment, the company’s engineering approach aims to bring reliable, high-performance computing directly to the edge of the mission, empowering spacecraft to process complex data locally and react swiftly to dynamic operational demands.
As the discussions between Jason Rainbow and Atle Woello illustrate, the path toward a more resilient and independent European space sector will depend heavily on the seamless collaboration between policy-makers, prime contractors, and specialized technology providers. By leveraging innovative processing platforms, agile manufacturing frameworks, and a renewed commitment to cross-domain defense integration, Europe’s industrial base is positioning itself to meet the challenges of a complex and competitive orbital environment.
