German satellite manufacturer secures Europe’s largest New Space Series A to date.

Berlin-based Reflex Aerospace has raised €50 million in a Series A round led by Human Element, joined by Alpine Space Ventures, Bayern Kapital, HTGF and others. The funding round is one of Europe’s largest private capital injections into a defence-relevant space company to date.

Reflex builds small, rapidly-manufacturable satellites used in so-called New Space programmes — commercial, modular platforms designed for defence and dual-use applications such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

The funding will be used to expand its Munich production facility and support deployment of satellite constellations, networks of small spacecraft that provide continuous coverage for data and imaging services.

Chief executive Walter Ballheimer said the investment would help Europe reduce reliance on non-EU suppliers for critical space-based intelligence.

The round, described by the company as the largest Series A in Europe’s New Space sector, comes as governments and investors increase spending on space and unmanned systems seen as essential to European deterrence.

Last month, European aerospace giants Airbus, Thales and Leonardo announced a joint space venture, widely seen as a response to large US space operators such as SpaceX.