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NEW CHALLENGES FOR DASA'S SATELLITE BUSINESS
by Wolfdietrich HoevelerDr. Klaus Enßlin is the Managing Director of Dornier Satellitensysteme (DSS) and, beginning on April 1, 1997, he will be responsible for the entire satellite business of Daimler-Benz Aerospace (Dasa). He is convinced that "Germany's satellite industry is still in a good position and, in the area of scientific satellites, Dasa is the undisputed market leader in Europe. In the field of earth observation the company is even with Matra and is furthermore holding its position in the weather satellite business".
Dr. Enßlin continues, saying that, in spite of some difficulties in 1996, the company did well in the area of communication satellites and that new chances are opening up in the field of navigational and security politics applications.
"Almost one fourth of last year's turnover of DM818,2 million was generated with commercial programs and without governmental influence. Very few companies in this market can show similar numbers, not even the large American market leaders". Along the same lines, his company is looking for new businesses to increase this number: "In the telecommunication business we are just at the beginning of the development. This opens new chances which we will take alone and with partners". Enßlin points out the 15 years of partnership with Aérospatiale, jointly acquiring orders in this branch. DSS has taken the general responsibility for the Argentinean Nahuel communication satellite and, through EuraSpace, for the Sinosat in a joint venture with China. "Dasa is participating in all programs," he emphasizes.
He admits that the price pressure in the communication business is forcing the industry to open new markets, saying that the turnover that is generated from the manufacture of a satellite can be multiplied by the factor 14 if the satellite operation can be included in the business: "We will only succeed if we manage to open new markets by becoming the system operators ourselves. Our competitors in the states are doing business this way already and we will go the same way in the Nahuel program".
Still, Dr. Enßlin criticizes that the space concept, which was just recently presented by German Minister of Research Rüttgers, doesn't represent this respectable marketing success. While in France the satellite industry is being conditioned by explicit political investments for the future global markets in the area of earth observation, as well as, communication and navigation, Bonn's research ministry is exposing the German space industry to free forces. Enßlin fears that the political retreat will promote the widening of the gap of international competitiveness between France and Germany.
Furthermore, Enßlin sees the danger of a fragmentation of the German satellite industry since small and medium companies must increasingly take over system leaderships due to the current politics of the German research ministry: "This is totally contrary to the development we see in the USA. There, system leaders are becoming more and more important while our position in the international competition, which is especially important for the projected fusioning with a European partner, is weakened. We are still good but, by decreasing the space budget - and I am not talking about subsidies here but about orders - the government is reducing our international importance".
Even though the agreements with Aérospatiale to join the two company's satellite businesses ran out at the end of last year, because Germany did not fulfill France's prerequisite of participating in the Helios 2/Horus reconnaissance system, Enßlin is convinced that there is still room to negotiate about the foundation of an European satellite company. Not only with the desired partner Aérospatiale but with also with other possible partners: "The interest in DSS is very high".
Should Germany decide not to actively participate in the Helios 2/Horus program "probably all Helios satellites will be built without Germany, France would develop the radar satellite alone, and Germany's leading position in synthetic aperture radar technology would be seriously endangered". Dr. Enßlin is convinced that the German space technology would then lose its international significance, taking over the role of a junior partner.
Such a development would also affect the current active role of Germany in the so called TriMilSatcom program for military communication satellites for the British, German, and French forces. This would also endanger possible spin-offs for civil communication satellites which could support Dasa's part in this market segment.
From page 40 of FLUG REVUE 3/97
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Last updated February 13, 1997