From: <a href="http://www.aftenposten.no/spesial/wikileaksdokumenter/article3969911.ece">Aftenposten</a><br>
Date: 11.9.2009

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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BERLIN 001130 
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CE PETER SCHROEDER STATE FOR ISN/MDSP DICK BUENNEKE 
E.O. 12958:
DECL: 09/11/2034
TAGS: ETTC, PGOV, PINR, MCAP, PREL, TSPA, IT, KS, FR, GM 
SUBJECT: GERMAN OPTICAL SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING: THE PATH FORWARD 
REF:
A. BERLIN 1116 B. BERLIN 1080 C. BERLIN 1049 D. BERLIN 765
E. BERLIN 601 F. BERLIN 561 G. BERLIN 181 H. 08 BERLIN 1575 
Classified By: Global Affairs Unit Chief Don L. Brown
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 

1. (C)
SUMMARY: The German Space Agency (DLR) is continuing on its
aggressive path to fly a High Resolution Optical Satellite
(HiROS) imaging system by 2013, despite an uncertain funding
future and an apparent lack of political consensus in the
current Grand-Coalition government. If the CDU/CSU Union can
forge a new coalition with the Free Democratic Party (FDP)
this September, support for HiROS will likely solidify. In the
meantime, DLR is taking prudent steps to ensure HiROS
technical requirements have been met. END SUMMARY

2. (SBU)
EconOff accompanied NGA representatives to meet with DLR
representatives at their Adlershof facility in Berlin to
discuss the future of the German HiROS program. DLR was
represented by Dr. Andreas Eckardt, Adlershof Head of Optical
Sensors and Electronics, and Mr. Frank Lehmann, Head of Sensor
Concepts and Applications at the Institute of Robotics and
Mechatronics.

DLR STILL LOOKING FOR HIROS FUNDING 
-----------------------------------

3. (C)
Eckardt opened the meeting saying, "We are currently looking
for financial support from Germany on HiROS." He said that, in
order for HiROS to proceed to Phase C and start the
procurement process, they will need secured funding; until
then, `in reality HiROS is not even an official project.'
Eckardt said DLR is hopeful that upon demonstrating technical
feasibility and pending the outcome of the German general
elections this September, HiROS will glide into Phases C and D
in 2010 and be deployable in 2013. (COMMENT: Concurrent with
this meeting, Eckardt was briefing "German officials" in
another room on the HiROS Phase B progress - presumably in an
effort to secure government funding/support. END COMMENT)

DLR IS CONFIDENT ABOUT THEIR EO TECHNOLOGY 
------------------------------------------ 

4. (C)
DLRs plans for HiROS go beyond establishing a remote sensing
competency to complement their Synthetic-Aperture-Radar (SAR)
programs. They plan to become world leaders in commercial
space-based Electro-Optical (EO) imagery, while incorporating
infra-red imaging capabilities. Eckardt said although the
planned Ground Resolved Distance (GRD) for HiROS is 50 cm, DLR
believes they have the technology in hand to go down to 25-40
cm. The decision to go with a 50 cm GRD is motivated by the
desire to export HiROS data while avoiding export control
restrictions.

5. (C)
Eckardt said HiROS will incorporate two thermal sensors: one
5-6 meter GRD long-wave sensor, and a 4-5 meter GRD mid-wave
sensor. Eckardt admitted that DLR is conducting classified
research into the possibility of building a three-meter
aperture telescope mirror that would not be made of silicon
carbide, but of a "brand new material" (NFI). (COMMENT:
Eckardt seemed to suggest that HiROS is part of a larger,
long-term German plan to secure technical dominance in the
worldwide space-based EO arena. END COMMENT)

6. (C)
Eckardt described DLRs responsibilities for the HiROS proposal
as constructing the HiROS instruments, sensors, and focal
plane as well as the ground segment. In addition, DLR would
develop mission software and image processing algorithms.
German industry would be responsible

BERLIN 00001130 002 OF 003 

for building the spacecraft bus and other mission segments,
where both Astrium (Friedrichshafen) and OHB-System would have
roles. Eckardt said Jena Optronik would provide new
star-tracking cameras for HiROS for improved control and
accuracy.

DLR CONCERNED ABOUT ITAR RESTRICTIONS WITH US COMPONENTS 
-------------------------------------------------------- 

7. (C)
Eckardt said DLR would like to procure US-origin control
motion gyroscopes (CMGs) and radiation-hardened integrated
circuits (ICs) from US vendors, but is concerned that ITAR
restrictions would inject too much procurement risk into the
HiROS proposal. Eckardt mentioned the US companies Northrop
Grumman (CMGs) and Fairchild Semiconductor (ICs) specifically
as desirable sources of HiROS components. Eckardt said if ITAR
restrictions appear too problematic, they would likely turn to
French suppliers. Eckardt emphasized that this was not his
preference because, "as a scientist, I just want the best
components."

DLRS KOREAN CONNECTION FUELING HIROS R&D 
----------------------------------------- 

8. (C)
DLRs motivation to develop HiROS emerged from a 2006
partnership with the Korean Aerospace Research Institute
(KARI), where DLR provided sensors, collection instruments,
and other mission critical equipment (effectively everything
except for the satellite bus) for KARIs KOMPSAT-3 a
high-resolution lightweight earth observation satellite. This
partnership, in cooperation with German industry at Astrium in
Friedrichshafen and Jena Optronik, essentially funded DLRs
HiROS research and development. Eckardt said DLR is already
working on instruments for the next generation KARI
earth-observation satellites, KOMPSAT-6 and -7, with a planned
EO GRD of 25 cm.

DLR CALLS KARI A GOOD FRIEND, BUT WARY OF TECHNOLOGY LEAKS 
---------------------------------------------------------- 

9. (C)
Eckardt spoke glowingly of DLRs cooperation with KARI and
called the director of KARIs Satellite Office, Joo-Jin Lee, "a
good friend." Eckardt said DLRs cooperation with KARI has
progressed to the point where scientific exchange is under way
with two KARI scientists working full-time at DLRs
Berlin-Adlershof facility. Eckardt, pausing for a moment while
describing this relationship, emphasized that DLR considers
the area where KARI officials are working to be "older
technology" and would not pose an "unauthorized technology
transfer risk." He added, "we are being careful to keep all
the cutting edge technologies to ourselves."

DIGITAL GLOBE TAKING A WAIT-AND-SEE APPROACH WITH HIROS 
------------------------------------------------------- 

10. (C)
Digital Globe (DG) CEO, Dr. Walter Scott, confirmed DGs
participation in DLRs Phase B technical feasibility study, but
further participation in HiROS is contingent on obstacles that
DLR must overcome. The technical questions Scott said DG needs
answered are:
(1) will HiROS have suitable technical performance for DGs
needs and
(2) what will the HiROS concept of operations look like in
terms of the licensing regime. Scott also said DLR would need
to demonstrate adequate financial/political support from the
German government for HiROS. Scott said if DLR can alleviate
these concerns, the next step would be negotiations on the
economic terms under which DG would acquire capacity in the
HiROS system.

11. (C)
Scott sees DG involvement with HiROS as a win/win situation
for DLR and DG, as well as for the German and US governments.
Scott said DG would primarily gain imaging capacity and
revisit rate, while Germany would potentially gain access to
the US market, a funding partner, and an

BERLIN 00001130 003 OF 003 

additional means of technical risk reduction. Scott feels from
the USG remote sensing perspective, HiROS would mitigate risk
against having yet another capable foreign competitor emerge.

COMMENT 
-------

12. (C)
With the German general election approaching quickly, HiROSs
prospects will likely appear clearer by the end of the year.
While technical considerations do not appear problematic,
political/financial concerns seem to be the main hurdle ahead
for HiROS viability. In 2006, France and Germany merged their
space programs with a gentlemans agreement not to step on each
other,s turf--the Germans would handle SAR and the French EO.
However, the French have since then partnered with the
Italians, who have their own indigenous space-based SAR --
COSMOS-SKYMED, and are leveraging this relationship to market
their EO commercial system packaged with COSMOS-SKYMED to
worldwide governments. These moves do not sit well with either
German commercial space-radar vendors or DLR. HiROS could
offer them an offsetting opportunity.

Murphy
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