Defense: France will deploy an additional observation satellite in space

The issue of spatial sovereignty. The Ministry of the Armed Forces intends to deploy a new generation of military observation satellite before 2030, in addition to the Military Programming Bill 2024-2030 that the government will introduce by way of amendment, Minister Sebastien Licorne announced on Tuesday 16 May. “I will be able to make a government amendment to the military programming law that will allow the inclusion of an additional satellite, Iris, in this military programming law without waiting for 2030-2035,” the Minister of the Armed Forces confirmed during the next week. Questions to the government in the council. “This is good news for our sovereignty and our intelligence service,” he said.

The Military Programming Bill, which provides for an envelope of 413 million euros over seven years for armies, will be examined by the National Assembly from Monday. Two French CSO spy satellites are currently in orbit. The minister noted that the third rocket, which was scheduled to be launched at the end of 2022 with a Soyuz rocket, “is planned for 2024.” CSO-3 must finally be launched aboard the Ariane 6, a Russian launcher operating out of Guyana that is no longer available since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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Dominion over large satellites

The LPM project has so far submitted for the Iris program, which will replace the CSO, resulting in the placement of two satellites into orbit between 2030 and 2035. With regard to safe military communications satellites in geostationary orbit (at an altitude of 36,000 km), the Minister added that the Military Programming Act It states “Studies for the construction of the fifth generation Syracuse”. A second version of the Syracuse 4 generation, 4B, will be launched on June 16 by the last Ariane 5 rocket. LPM, on the other hand, indicates the abandonment of a third satellite, Syracuse 4C.

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“There are currently ways to work on constellations in low orbit (a few hundred kilometers above sea level, editor’s note) or to buy services,” emphasized Mr. Licorno, stressing that “we hold in our hearts sovereignty over large satellites in the highlands.” revolves around our own expertise.” LPM also provides the renewal of electromagnetic intelligence satellites using the Céleste program, which will be the successor to the Ceres satellites.

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