France has awarded Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space a contract worth more than 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) to build two military observation satellites designed to deliver sharper imagery and faster intelligence to French forces.
Known as IRIS, the new satellite system will replace the country’’s Optical Space Component (CSO) reconnaissance constellation, reducing the time between image collection and delivery to military users.
France’s defense procurement agency awarded the contract, which covers satellite design, manufacturing, and testing, along with ground infrastructure, in-orbit operations, and maintenance.
The program will run through the end of the 2030s, with IRIS also remaining open to international cooperation that would give allied nations access to the French system.
The satellites will use visible and infrared sensors to capture very high-resolution images of locations worldwide, supporting observation during both day and night.
They will also be capable of imaging objects, helping France monitor activity in orbit and assess potential threats to its space assets.
Airbus and Thales Divide Satellite Work
As the lead contractor, Airbus will supply both satellite platforms, including their structures and onboard systems for supporting the imaging equipment. It will also provide a substantial portion of the first satellite’s imaging payload.
The company will also oversee the ground infrastructure used to control the satellites and distribute imagery to military users.
Thales Alenia Space will develop the next-generation imaging payload for the second satellite, supply critical elements for the first, and contribute to the ground systems.
European Intelligence
France’s existing CSO constellation consists of three satellites, with the final spacecraft launched in March 2025.
The constellation was developed under the Multinational Space-based Imaging System, a European initiative to give participating countries access to optical and radar satellite imagery for military intelligence.
Under a Franco-German agreement, Berlin receives access to CSO’s optical imagery, while Paris can use Germany’s SARah radar observation system. The arrangement gives both countries access to complementary sources of satellite intelligence.