The Hybrid Alliance Layered Operations in Space (HALO) initiative, announced at the NATO Summit in Ankara, aims to overcome the cost and coverage limits of single-nation satellite fleets by pooling national assets into a shared architecture.
Eight founding members have signed on, but NATO officials confirmed more allies are expected to join. The network will cover transport satellites, sensors, software and interoperability standards, though the exact constellation architecture and funding model remain under development.
HALO echoes the US Space Force’s Space Data Network effort, which uses SpaceX Starshield satellites as a data transport backbone for the Trump administration’s Golden Dome missile defense shield.
Separately, Spain became the 19th member of NATO’s Allied Persistent Surveillance from Space (APSS) program during the summit. Turkey is building two new high-resolution ISR satellites under contracts worth more than $300 million that will feed into APSS. Canada also joined the Starlift initiative, which explores rapid-launch capabilities for allied space assets.
The announcements signal a broader NATO pivot toward space as a contested domain, with member states moving from standalone national programs toward integrated, alliance-wide constellations for intelligence, communications and missile warning.
