Capability C07
Encryption keys and system control
Control of cryptographic keys, command and control of European space systems.
⚑ Draft assessment — requires reviewConfidence: Low
Recommended approach
Build
Last reviewed 9 Nov 2026
Rationale (analytical judgement)
Control of keys and command is strategically critical and not substitutable: build or retain European control.
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Three main questions
- How critical?
- High — Whoever holds keys and control can deny or manipulate the service.
- Pressure risk
- High — could an external provider use the dependency as political or economic pressure?
- Alternative in 24 months?
- No
Current position
- European capability
- Not yet assessed with sources.
- External dependencies
- Any external control of keys or command segments would be a direct sovereignty exposure; current exposure not yet documented.
- Main external actors
- Not yet identified
Additional factors
Factors without a recorded assessment are shown as not yet assessed.
- Cost of developing European capacity
- Not yet assessed
- Time to operational readiness
- Not yet assessed
- Availability of trusted partners
- Not yet assessed
- Market concentration
- Not yet assessed
- Technological maturity
- Not yet assessed
- Impact on innovation and competitiveness
- Not yet assessed
- Security and resilience
- Core sovereignty requirement; non-negotiable for governmental systems.
Recommendation history
Manual adjustments with their documented explanation.
No adjustments yet
The draft recommendation has not been changed.
Relevant KPIs
No kpis linked
No relationship recorded.
Related risks
- R5 US dependency
External control of keys would be a direct dependency.
⚑ Suggested link — not validated