Alvaro Sanchez, the chief executive officer of Spanish electronic warfare company Integrasys, has warned that depending on private satellite networks poses a severe vulnerability to national security during military operations.
Speaking after participating in the First Defense Observatory forum organized by Spanish news publication El Espanol, Sanchez stated that modern battlefield rules have shifted as technological innovation and electronic warfare replace traditional heavy artillery.
Sanchez explained that conflicts in the past focused on head-on clashes using heavy materials and projectiles, whereas current hostilities demonstrate a technological war. He noted that the ongoing conflict on Ukrainian soil highlights how rapidly classical military doctrines become obsolete when pitted against real time data processing and precision systems.
Electronic warfare refers to military operations that use the electromagnetic spectrum to detect, intercept, or block enemy communications and radar signals while protecting friendly forces. Tactical superiority is no longer measured in tons of steel, but in the capability to process sensor data instantly and disable adversary communications before an offensive begins.
According to Sanchez, modern armies require a continuous and secure flow of information to maintain strategic control. Cross-referencing data gathered across multiple sensors enables commanders to make informed strategic decisions, which he highlighted as a vital defense against state-sponsored disinformation campaigns.
Private Satellite Dependencies
Control over outer space now presents one of the largest sovereignty challenges facing Western nations, Sanchez warned. He highlighted the massive orbital network Starlink, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, as a prime example of an unprecedented strategic vulnerability for military command structures.
Starlink, operated by American aerospace firm SpaceX, uses thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites to provide global internet coverage. During recent international conflicts, private satellite constellations have provided essential communications for military units operating in areas where ground infrastructure was destroyed.
Sanchez cautioned that a single tech corporation currently possesses greater operational capability than many sovereign governments. This geopolitical anomaly leaves armed forces exposed to the risk that a unilateral corporate decision could shut down military command and control systems in the middle of an active offensive.
European Defense and National Sovereignty
Addressing institutional readiness, Sanchez criticized the European Union for moving too slowly to build independent defense capabilities. He stated that European industrial and military sectors must drastically accelerate their development processes to stay prepared for emerging hybrid conflicts.
The 27-member European Union has attempted to enhance strategic autonomy through joint defense funding and sovereign satellite initiatives, though procurement across member states frequently faces administrative hurdles.
At the national level, the Integrasys chief called on Spain to abandon bureaucratic inertia and commit firmly to technological sovereignty. He urged Spanish leadership to launch far more ambitious defense programs to expand the country's deterrence and response capabilities, asserting that cutting-edge technology is the only effective shield against modern threats.
