German armed forces approaching outer space: the Air and Space Operations Centre as a gateway to multi-domain operations

Abstract

With the establishment of the Air and Space Operations Centre (ASOC), the Bundes­wehr is bringing together several capacities in one central facility. What sounds like science fiction at first glance is a necessary response to the growing military impor­tance of space as an operational dimension. Space operations will not become part of everyday life overnight. In the medium to long term, however, the new centre offers opportunities for multidimensional integration that could prove to be a driver of innovation for the armed forces as a whole. In order to exploit this potential, addi­tional personnel and structural adjustments are necessary. (Autorenreferat)