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France has awarded Airbus Defence & Space and Thales Alenia Space a contract worth €1.5 billion (approximately $1.7 billion) to develop two next-generation military observation satellites, replacing its existing three-satellite CSO constellation and maintaining an independent space-based intelligence capability beyond 2035.

The French Directorate General of Armament (DGA) announced on November 9 that it had awarded the contract for the IRIS program, which is designed to provide the French Armed Forces with higher-resolution satellite imagery and faster access to intelligence.

The two satellites will be able to observe any point on Earth, day or night, using advanced optical and infrared sensors.

The program is a major investment in France’s military space capabilities and strategic autonomy. It will allow the country to maintain independent access to high-quality intelligence imagery at a time when satellite surveillance has become increasingly important for military planning, battlefield monitoring and national security.

Thales Alenia Space at the heart of the future IRIS military optical observation program: https://t.co/pevf4i86Ej 📸Illustration of one of the three CSO satellites ©CNES. IRIS will succeed the CSO program. https://t.co/GMMYh8zp9p

— Thales Alenia Space (@Thales_Alenia_S) November 9, 2026

IRIS to Replace the Three Existing CSO Satellites

The IRIS system, whose name stands for Intelligence and Space Imaging Instruments, will replace France’s three current CSO (Composante Spatiale Optique) military observation satellites, which were launched in 2018, 2020 and 2025.

The existing satellites form part of the Multinational Space-based Imaging System (MUSIS), a European cooperation program involving eight partner countries.

Under France’s military modernization plans for 2024–2030, the first IRIS satellite is expected to become operational in 2033, with both satellites scheduled to be in orbit by 2035.

The first will replace CSO-1 and CSO-2, ensuring continuity of France’s space-based intelligence capabilities. The second will enter service after the operational life of the final CSO satellite ends, significantly improving the system’s overall imaging performance.

Unlike the existing constellation, IRIS will incorporate newer optical instruments, more sensitive sensors, and advanced image-processing technologies. The objective is not only to produce clearer images but also to reduce the time required to process and deliver intelligence to military users.

Higher-Resolution Images and Space Surveillance

According to the DGA, the new satellites will provide extremely high-resolution images of any location on Earth, both during the day and at night. Their sensors will operate across visible and infrared wavelengths, allowing French forces to collect intelligence under different lighting conditions and improve their ability to monitor military activities and developments worldwide.

The system will also have the capability to observe objects in orbit, supporting France’s space surveillance activities and the identification and characterization of potential threats in space. This will provide an additional intelligence capability as military operations increasingly depend on satellites for communications, navigation, reconnaissance and early warning.

[Communiqué] La DGA lance en réalisation le programme de satellites d’observation militaire IRIS Les satellites d’observation militaire permettront, à l’horizon 2035, de garantir à la France une capacité opérationnelle de Renseignement d’origine image (ROIM) depuis l’espace. 🔗 https://t.co/KmkgD6ot2O

— Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants (@Armees_Gouv) November 10, 2026

Thales Alenia Space said the IRIS program would incorporate a highly stable telescope with active optics, ultra-sensitive high-speed digital sensors and artificial intelligence-based image processing. These technologies are intended to improve image quality and accelerate the delivery of information to military decision-makers.

Thales Alenia Space Chief Executive Officer Hervé Derrey described the planned optical instrument as “the most advanced optical instrument ever built in Europe.”

Airbus and Thales Divide Development Responsibilities

Airbus Defense and Space will lead the industrial consortium and provide both satellite platforms, a significant portion of the first satellite’s payload, and the ground segment.

Its responsibilities also include the design, manufacturing, and testing of the satellites, as well as the infrastructure needed to control the spacecraft and process and distribute their imagery.

Thales Alenia Space will develop the next-generation payload for the second satellite, supply critical components for the first satellite’s payload, and contribute to the ground infrastructure. The company previously developed the optical instruments used in France’s CSO satellites.

The industrial team will also include several French technology companies. The DGA identified Lynred, Pyxalis, Sodern, Safran Reosc and Air Liquide Advanced Technologies among the subcontractors participating in the program.

The contract covers the development and testing of both satellites, ground-based control and image-processing systems, and in-orbit operations and maintenance. Work is expected to continue until the end of the 2030s, supporting the long-term operation of the system.

Airbus said the program would strengthen France’s industrial capabilities in space-based optical imaging and contribute to the country’s strategic autonomy.

France Seeks to Maintain Independent Intelligence Capabilities

The IRIS program reflects France’s efforts to preserve its independent access to high-quality military intelligence from space. France is among the few European NATO members operating a sovereign constellation of advanced optical military observation satellites, while many European allies continue to rely on intelligence-sharing arrangements and satellite capabilities provided by the United States.

The importance of this capability has become particularly visible during the war in Ukraine. In January 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron said France was providing approximately two-thirds of the intelligence information supplied to Ukraine, highlighting the country’s role in supporting Ukrainian military intelligence requirements.

The ability to independently collect and process satellite imagery gives France greater control over the information available to its armed forces and reduces its dependence on external intelligence providers. It also allows French military authorities to monitor developments in different regions and make operational decisions using nationally controlled assets.

The DGA said the IRIS program was designed to maintain this capability while improving its performance to meet the requirements of the armed forces in a rapidly changing strategic environment.

Program Remains Open to International Cooperation

Although IRIS is being developed to maintain France’s sovereign military intelligence capabilities, the system will also remain open to international cooperation. The DGA said partner countries would be able to access the French observation system, continuing the cooperative approach established under the existing MUSIS program.

The satellites will be operated by the Space Command of the French Air and Space Force, which is responsible for coordinating the country’s military space activities.

The IRIS contract also comes as Airbus, Leonardo and Thales pursue plans to consolidate parts of their European space businesses. The three companies signed a memorandum of understanding in October 2025 to combine their space activities into a new European entity, provisionally known as Project Bromo. The proposed company could become operational in 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and the completion of the necessary conditions.