WikiLeaks Gets German Satellite Boss Sacked

The chief executive of a German satellite company has been sacked, for statements included in a leaked US embassy document published by WikiLeaks.

Berry Smutny reportedly called the European Galileo satellite navigation project a “waste of money” in a leaked US diplomatic cable which was included in the 350,000 which WikiLeaks is publishing on the web and in newspapers. Despite denying he ever made the remark, Smutny was sacked by his company, OHB-Systems, which is a major Galileo contractor.

Galileo “a stupid idea”?

The European Galileo project will launch 14 satellites, and is being promoted as an alternative to the US-provided GPS navigation service, which currently dominates a navigation market predicted to grow to €100 billion (£84bn).

OHB was awarded the contract to build the satellites in January 2010, jointly with UK company SSTL, which will make the satellite payloads in Surrey. The combined contract is worth €566 million (£465m).

Smutny’s alleged remarks actually date from a meeting in Berlin, in October 2009, before the contracts were awarded. US diplomats reported that he criticised Galileo and France, and the secret cable was published via WikiLeaks, in the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten, on Thursday.

“I think Galileo is a stupid idea that primarily serves French interests”, Smutny said, according to the cable. He is also reported as saying it was “doomed for failure” or would “have to undergo drastic scalebacks for survival”.

He has denied to Aftenposten that he made any such remarks, but confirmed the meeting took place.