Rohde & Schwarz has taken a strategic stake in Orbint GmbH, a startup founded in 2025 as a spin-off from the University of the Bundeswehr Munich. This partnership aims to merge their expertise in satellite-based signal intelligence (SIGINT), a capability deemed critical for Europe’s technological sovereignty and security.
Orbint, founded by research assistants Alexander Schmidt, Simon Heine, Daniel Weinzierl, and Winfried Stock, brings a novel approach to space-based reconnaissance. Its technology utilizes a distributed satellite network to detect, identify, and geolocate a wide array of signals in near real-time, performing data processing directly onboard the satellites.
For Rohde & Schwarz, this investment marks a strategic expansion of its electromagnetic spectrum reconnaissance portfolio into the space domain. Alexander Orellano, Executive Vice President at Rohde & Schwarz, emphasized the necessity of this move, stating, “In the current geopolitical security situation, space-based signal intelligence is a key capability for Europe.” The collaboration is viewed as a way to accelerate the development of advanced defense and aerospace technologies by combining the innovation of a startup with the scale and experience of an established technology leader.
Alexander Schmidt of Orbint highlighted that choosing Rohde & Schwarz was a deliberate decision for more than capital. “It was important for us to find a partner who would… create real added value with their technological depth, substantive expertise, and market proximity,” he explained.
The venture has its roots in the university’s SeRANIS small satellite mission, funded by dtec.bw. This project served as an orbiting laboratory for communications and reconnaissance technologies. University President Prof. Dr. Eva-Maria Kern noted the spin-off as a success story for targeted, security-related research. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Andreas Knopp, head of the SeRANIS project, underscored the rapid five-year journey from basic research to a commercial partnership as a new, necessary pace for Germany to transform defense innovations into operational capabilities.
Ultimately, this alliance is positioned to provide a sovereign, national SIGINT-from-space solution for the German Armed Forces, completing the transfer of cutting-edge academic research into practical, strategic defense systems.
