Rheinmetall-OHB Joint Venture Cleared for Military Satellite Communications
Summary
The Bundeskartellamt has approved the creation of a joint venture between Rheinmetall Digital GmbH (Düsseldorf) and OHB SE (Bremen) to bid for a future Bundeswehr public procurement contract for military satellite communications. President Andreas Mundt stated that the two companies operate in different sectors, combining complementary expertise as a consortium, with no competition concerns arising from the joint venture's creation.
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GovPing monitors Bundeskartellamt Press Releases for new consumer protection regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 11 changes logged to date.
What changed
The Bundeskartellamt granted unconditional clearance to a joint venture in which Rheinmetall Digital (responsible for user and network segments, including end-user terminals) and OHB SE (responsible for space and ground segments, including satellite manufacturing and ground stations) will jointly bid as a systems integrator and main contractor for a Bundeswehr procurement contract. The authority found no competition concerns because the parties operate in complementary, non-overlapping market segments. The clearance removes the regulatory obstacle to the consortium forming and bidding on the programme.
Scheduled event
- Date
- 2026-04-16
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Apr 16, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Current contents of the Federal Cartel Office
Bundeskartellamt approves creation of joint venture between Rheinmetall and OHB in the satellite communications sector
16.04.2026
published on: 16.04.2026
The Bundeskartellamt has today approved the creation of a joint venture between Rheinmetall Digital GmbH, Bremen, and OHB SE, Bremen, to bid for a future Bundeswehr public procurement contract. The planned project focuses on expanding military satellite communications.
Rheinmetall Digital is a subsidiary of Rheinmetall AG, Düsseldorf. Within the group, it is responsible for developing, integrating and deploying digital systems. OHB is a space and technology company developing space systems. The new joint venture to be established is intended to act as a systems integrator and main contractor. OHB is to cover both the space segment and the associated ground segment of the satellites, including, for example, satellite manufacturing and the establishment of ground stations. Rheinmetall Digital is to be responsible for the user segment and the network segment, including, for example, end-user terminals.
Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt: “ Rheinmetall Digital and OHB operate in different sectors. They aim to combine their expertise in order to jointly submit a bid as a consortium. There are no competition concerns regarding the creation of the joint venture.”
German Version:
- ### Bundeskartellamt genehmigt Gemeinschaftsunternehmen von Rheinmetall und OHB im Bereich Satellitenkommunikation
16.04.2026
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