Estonia, renowned as one of the world's most digitally advanced nations, is set to enhance Europe's space security capabilities, through the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Space Systems for Safety and Security (4S) programme. A contract signature for the project, called Space Cyber Range (SCR), was signed on 23 January 2025 in Tallinn, will bring together Estonia's cybersecurity expertise with its emerging space sector.
The Estonian Space Office, with support from the 4S programme, has architected this initiative to address critical cybersecurity challenges especially faced by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and NewSpace companies. The project leverages Estonia's established cybersecurity infrastructure, including the expertise of Foundation CR14, which currently operates NATO's cyber range facilities. The CSR will provide a virtual environment in which organisations are able to test, validate, and demonstrate the security of space-related assets and processes, perform cybersecurity exercises and trainings and share knowledge. These will be complemented with the establishment of physical facilities, such as a showroom.
The project is progressing through a structured two-phase approach following its commencement in 2023. During the initial phase, completed in July 2024, Spaceit conducted a concept study, implemented under the ARTES Agile framework. Following rigorous evaluation in October 2024, Spaceit's consortium continued to the next phase, which includes the development and demonstration of the Space Cyber Range. The contract signature, signed by ESA’s Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications, Laurent Jaffart, and Silver Lodi, Management Board Member of Spaceit, will now kick-start the second phase of the project.
The selected consortium brings together prominent actors in Estonia's technology ecosystem. Spaceit leads the implementation, supported by CybExer Technologies, CGI Eesti, and the University of Tartu, with CR14 serving as an external service provider. This collaboration ensures a comprehensive approach to space cybersecurity, combining academic research with industry expertise.
The project has attracted significant interest from diverse stakeholders across Europe, with potential users being satellite manufacturers and operators, critical infrastructure telecommunications providers, and academic institutions. This broad spectrum of interested parties underscores the initiative's potential impact on Europe's space security landscape.
“Over the past five years, there has been a significant increase in cyberattacks, emphasising the growing risks for sectors such as energy grids, emergency responders, and other critical infrastructure dependent on satellite connectivity,” said Laurent Jaffart. “Estonia's proven leadership in cybersecurity makes it the ideal home for this facility. This initiative will improve cybersecurity knowledge across the sector and help elevate Europe’s digital future.”
"This cyber range provides the practical testing environment our space sector needs," said Christophe Allemand, ESA's Head of Space Systems for Safety and Security. "Companies can conduct critical security exercises, validate their satellite systems before launch, and gain the expertise needed to protect their space assets. This is essential infrastructure for building secure, resilient space systems."
Estonian entrepreneurs reach ESA through Space Estonia at the Enterprise Estonia, whose central task is advising entrepreneurs and mediating suitable calls for tenders.
“In the field of cyber security, Estonian companies are known and recognised by the European Space Agency. This is a strong indicator that a small country like ours has the knowledge and skills to become a leader at a European scale in the implementation of space services, management of threats, development of autonomous robots and ensuring the cyber security of the space sector,” said Madis Võõras, the head of Space Estonia.
Silver Lodi, CEO of Spaceit, emphasised the increasing importance of cybersecurity for space infrastructure due to the growing reliance on space technology and global political tensions. "The new range will enable us to simulate specific space-related environments and potential threats, validate various industry-specific components and processes, and contribute to the development of expertise in space cyber defence," he stated.
