# France orders military imaging satellites from Airbus and Thales Alenia Space Airbus values the consortium’s IRIS contract at more than €1.5 billion, covering two satellites, ground systems and operations. The first satellite is planned for service around 2033. Published 2026-11-10 by TGOs. Canonical: https://tgos.io/news/2026/11/10/france-orders-military-imaging-satellites-from-airbus-and-thales/ 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] Work under the contract is scheduled to run until the end of the 2030s.[2] Airbus, the lead contractor, puts its value at more than €1.5 billion for the entire consortium.[2] 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.[2] 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] ## Why it matters The DGA aims to maintain France’s space-based imaging capability while improving image quality and shortening the time needed to make images available.[1] The agency also says IRIS is open to cooperation that would allow partner countries to access the French system.[1] ## Sources 1. DGA: La DGA lance en réalisation le programme de satellites d'observation militaire Iris (Nov. 9, 2026) 2. Airbus: Airbus to deliver IRIS, France's next generation military Earth observation satellites (Nov. 9, 2026) 3. Defense News: France orders military Earth-observation satellites for more than €1.5 billion (Nov. 10, 2026)