Date:
2009 September 10, 15:46 (Thursday)
Canonical ID:
09BERLIN1116_a
(…)
Classified By: Global Affairs Unit Chief Don L. Brown for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 1. (S//NF)

SUMMARY: The German Intelligence Service (BND) expressed confidence that Germany‘s proposal for a High Resolution Optical System (HiROS) reconnaissance satellite program „will be realized regardless of the outcome of the German general elections this month“ and is advocating for a US partnership on HiROS. The BND is adamant that HiROS include infrared imaging capabilities and that they have priority tasking on at least three HiROS satellites. In a related development, the German Space Agency (DLR) is planning on signing a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with Lockheed Martin for cooperation on HiROS on September 30 in Denver, CO. 2. (S//NF) On September 2, EconOff was provided with the notes of a meeting between Astrium Vice President for Earth Observation, Navigation on Science, Dr. Reinhold Lutz, and BND Vice President for Military Affairs, Major General Armin Hasenpusch, in which they discussed the future of the HiROS proposal. These notes contained Lutz‘s summary of the meeting and were sent as an email to Astrium-Satellites CEO Evert Dudok and Astrium-Services CEO Eric Beranger. (COMMENT: Astrium-Satellites Director for External Business Opportunities and DLR consultant, Tom Walati, was cc‘d on the email and forwarded it to EconOff (strictly protect). Walati is very motivated to promote German-U.S. cooperation on HiROS and was likely not given permission by Astrium to forward this email to a USG employee. END COMMENT) END SUMMARY (…)

4. (S//NF) Walati said DLR is planning on sending high level representatives headed by Dr. Hubert Reile, DLR Program Director for Space, to Denver, CO on September 30 to sign a DLR/Lockheed Martin MOU on HiROS. According to Walati, Astrium-Germany and DLR, in potential partnership with OHB-System and Lockheed Martin, are offering to the UAE a HiROS system with a Ground Resolution Distance (GRD) of 50 cm.