France orders military imaging satellites from Airbus and Thales Alenia Space

France has awarded Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space the IRIS contract to replace its military imaging satellites.^1–2 The Directorate General of Armament (DGA) notified the companies on Nov. 5 and announced the award on Nov. 9.¹

Airbus Defence and Spaceboth satellite platformsplanned

Airbus will provide both satellite platforms, a significant share of the first satellite’s payload, and be responsible for the ground segment.

Thales Alenia Space (TAS)next-generation payload for the second satelliteplanned

TAS will develop a next-generation payload for the second satellite, provide critical elements for the first payload, and contribute to the ground segment.

Airbus

Sources

• www.airbus.com ↗

TGOs tgos.ioShare

Work under the contract is scheduled to run until the end of the 2030s. Airbus, the lead contractor, puts its value at more than €1.5 billion for the entire consortium. That covers the design, manufacture and testing of two satellites, control and user ground segments, and in-orbit operations and maintenance.²

Airbus will provide both satellite platforms and a substantial share of the first satellite’s payload, and will be responsible for the ground segment. Thales Alenia Space will develop the second satellite’s next-generation payload, provide critical elements of the first payload and contribute to the ground segment.² Neither company’s share of the contract value is disclosed in the DGA or Airbus announcements.^1–2

Subcontractors include Lynred, Pyxalis, Sodern, Safran Reosc and Air Liquide Advanced Technologies.¹

The DGA plans for the two IRIS satellites to replace the three CSO satellites of the MUSIS system by 2035, with the first entering service around 2033.¹ Defense News reported, citing a Thales statement, that the first IRIS satellite will replace CSO-1 and CSO-2.³