The Swiss military and defense company Ruag MRO are planning a Swiss sovereign satellite constellation of up to 40 satellites. (symbol image)Image: Shutterstock
With Donald Trump becoming the new US president and Elon Musk, space will suddenly become even more important than it is now. This is why the Swiss Army now wants to be actively involved in space activities.
Ottmar von Matt/ch media
At first glance, the smartphone looks like a regular modern Samsung phone: flat, square, surrounded by black, and with five cameras on the back. Comes with a pen.
But a second look will make you suspicious. The phone's display shows secure email, a secure browser, a secure messenger, a private Android operating system, its own ChatGPT called Lasa, and even its own app store.
Secure email, secure browser, secure messenger: the “Guardian” smartphone developed by Ruag MRO in partnership with the Geneva company Wisekey can also connect to satellite networks.Image: ruag mro screenshot
Swiss Army technical services provider Ruag MRO, a defense company, developed the secure Swiss phone in close collaboration with Geneva-based cybersecurity company Wisekey. Ruger confirmed this.
“Guardians” is based on a mass-produced Samsung mobile phone and uses the Android operating system. It has been extensively edited for security. Ruag spokesperson Kirsten Hammerich said: “All elements that cannot be verified, do not contain any productivity requirements, establish connections with third parties or send data to third parties will be removed from the operating system.” All elements required by customers will be self-installed. managed alternatives “to ensure full control of the device”. No one should be able to use a smartphone. It is designed to meet the Army's “Secret” classification.
“Guardian” exists as a prototype and is in the pilot phase. According to Ruger's plan, mobile phones should become the core of secure communications for the Swiss army, police, authorities, border guards, fire brigade, medical services, civil defense and authorities.
New secure smartphones can connect not only to 5G mobile networks but also to satellite networks. “Guardian is an integral part of the overall concept of what is possible with satellite communications,” Hammerich emphasized.
This is especially important for the Swiss Army. She plans to go into space and is writing a foundational paper that will be published soon. Operationally, the Army hopes to create a “space” command similar to its “cyber” command.
Satellites are crucial to this. Defense Minister Viola Amherd and the entire Federal Council know this. “Today, nearly all of the more complex military positioning, time synchronization, communications, reconnaissance or weather forecasting systems rely on satellites,” they said in the Defense Capabilities and Cooperation report released on January 31, 2024. These satellites are “Quickly” further development and downsizing. This opens up many opportunities for smaller countries such as Switzerland – “because prices are falling”.
A satellite will soon cost just 60,000 francs
There has indeed been a significant democratization of satellite systems. Wisekey founder and CEO Carlos Creus Moreira said that a few years ago it cost 20 million francs to develop a satellite, but today it costs 300,000 francs. For three years it has also been manufacturing satellites through Wisesat and Spanish company Fossa. In two years, development costs will be only 60,000 francs, Moreira said, explaining: “Because the Starship large rocket project can transport more satellites in containers that are ten times larger. This reduces costs.”
Democratization helps Switzerland. Behind the scenes, Ruag MRO, the Swiss Army, the Federal Armament Office (Armasuisse) and private company Wisekey are working closely together to get into space.
The goal is to establish a Swiss sovereign satellite constellation system. This is the conclusion reached by Ruag in a booklet on the “National Mobile Security Communications System MSK” published in September. The MSK project aims to replace Polycom by 2030, an integrated radio security network for authorities, border forces, police, fire services, medical services, civil defense and the near-end-of-life military.
Research shows that Ruger and the Army are considering plans to place up to 40 small satellites in low-Earth orbit. With this network, the Army can meet the critical needs it faces in space: reconnaissance and surveillance, high-speed satellite communications to supplement ground communications and provide accurate geolocation signals at all times as military systems and precision weapons increasingly rely on them .
Spokesman Hamerich said Ruger could not yet provide any specific information. One thing is clear: Ruag and the Army see the MSK program as an ideal springboard into space. Ruag writes in its brochure that it is working with the military to develop “a satellite system that will replace Polycom's ground infrastructure.” This is “significantly more cost-effective, efficient and reliable”.
She confirmed that the Army is also working on “tailor-made space-based telecommunications capabilities to replace ground-based systems in all scenarios.” Research is currently being conducted and demonstrators tested to provide a basis for decision-making. “If these studies show a viable path forward,” the defense group wrote, “a request for initial capability development could be made to Congress and submitted with Army Information 2026.”
The Army is testing a direct connection between smartphones and low-Earth orbit satellites. The tests will be included in a study being prepared in parallel by Armasuisse.
Alignment Battle
The Federal Council hopes to raise 2.9 billion francs for the MSK project. “Part of it that is still to be determined may flow into the space sector,” said Isabelle Chappuis, the central state committee member active in space issues. In the Federal Council's explanatory report on MSK, future cooperation with satellite providers and possible space communications by the military are also planned.
But behind the scenes, there appears to be a struggle over MSK's direction. The Federal Office for Civil Protection is in charge, telling CH Media that satellite technology is an option. However, the current focus of discussion is on variants that do not include satellites.
According to reports, many political parties and organizations participating in the consultations, which lasted until October 24, have different views on this. They want to integrate satellite communications immediately.
Trump and Musk are backing the military
Central National Commissar Chapuis also agreed. “Switzerland must move forward with its own sovereign satellite system, a true Swiss Star system,” she said. “With Donald Trump and Elon Musk in the White House, it is foreseeable that global space activities will become very militarized in the future.”
Trump created the U.S. Space Force, the space branch of the U.S. armed forces, during his first presidential term in 2019. Musk and his space company SpaceX have built the Starlink satellite network with 6,697 satellites – the largest network in the world to date.
Carlos Moreira, founder of Wisekey, said that for Switzerland, an important business center, “it is very important that the country has an independent and sovereign satellite constellation”, whether for banking, industry, science or the military In terms of. “Reliance on other countries such as the United States in times of crisis would be fatal.”
Wisekey launches 105 satellites into space
Wisekey itself has begun developing its own satellite constellation. According to RTS, 17 satellites have already entered space, and when fully expanded the network will include 105 satellites. They orbit the Earth at an estimated distance of 160 to 2000 kilometers. This allows Wisekey to generate satellite images of Switzerland every five minutes. Moreira said the constellation provides secure and cost-effective “Internet of Things” applications for networked agricultural processes as well as energy and logistics. However, it is unlikely to meet the military's requirements.
Nonetheless, Wyskey developed a slightly modified satellite for military testing. It is blue and white, 50 centimeters long and 20 centimeters deep, and is equipped with the latest generation of microprocessors to defend satellites from computer attacks.
The satellite will be launched from California on January 16, 2025. This is where the Guardian smartphone comes into play – using satellites in space for real-time testing. (aargauerzeitung.ch)
