Nato to spend billions boosting satellite, cyber budgets
Nato plans to spend €€3 billion (HK$25 billion) to upgrade its satellite and computer technology over the next three years as the military alliance adapts to new threats, a senior official said.
The official at the Nato Communications and Information Agency said the plans include a €€1.7-billion investment in satellite communications to better support troops and ships deployed across the alliance, as well as aiding the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones.
It was not immediately clear if Nato allies would fund a new military communications satellite to be launched into space or if an increase in broadband capacity could be gained from existing US and other allied satellites.
The proposals, for which some funding must still be approved by Nato governments, also envisage spending about €800 million on the computer systems that help command air and missile defences, said the official, who declined to be named.
They said €71 million will be spent on protecting Nato’s main offices from cyberattacks.
Nato says it has seen a five-fold increase in suspicious events on its networks in the past three years. Officials suspect Russia of sponsoring attacks against their networks before major summits.
