PARIS, France — France has awarded the CASSIOPÉE contract to Airbus Defence and Space as lead contractor, with French space company Unseenlabs serving as co-contractor, marking the start of the renewal of the country’s space-based signal intelligence (SIGINT) capability. The contract was announced by French Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans’ Affairs Catherine Vautrin on the sidelines of the International Space Summit.
CASSIOPÉE is scheduled to replace France’s three-satellite CERES constellation by 2032. The new system will form the high-performance, sovereign core of the wider CELESTE (Space Electromagnetic Capability) programme, which addresses France’s space-based electromagnetic intelligence requirements.
Airbus to Lead Satellite and Ground Systems
Under the contract, Airbus Defence and Space will act as the system integrator. The company will provide the satellite solution, ground segment and control centre.
The satellites will use Airbus’ latest-generation S250 platform, which was most recently used for the CO3D optical satellite constellation. CO3D is a dual-use Earth-observation programme developed with France’s space agency CNES and launched in 2025.
Unseenlabs, a French company specialising in radio-frequency detection from space, will contribute its expertise in mission planning, ground processing and on-board processing. It will also provide a ground segment and an intelligence payload.
The partnership brings together Airbus’ established satellite-system capabilities with Unseenlabs’ experience in space-based radio-frequency detection. France’s Defence Innovation Agency has previously highlighted Unseenlabs as a French New Space company focused on observing the radio-frequency spectrum from space.
CASSIOPÉE to Replace CERES
The existing CERES constellation consists of three satellites launched on 16 November 2021 aboard a Vega rocket from French Guiana. The satellites operate in low Earth orbit at around 700 kilometres altitude and fly in formation.
CERES collects electromagnetic signals, particularly emissions from radars and telecommunications systems, to detect, characterise and locate transmitters. Each satellite has a mass of approximately 516 kilograms.
The programme was developed under the supervision of France’s Directorate-General for Armament (DGA), with Airbus and Thales as the main industrial partners.
CASSIOPÉE is intended to maintain this operational capability while providing improved technical performance and faster responsiveness.
Role of Space-Based SIGINT
Space-based SIGINT involves collecting and analysing electromagnetic emissions from sources such as radar and telecommunications systems. This information can be used to detect, characterise and track transmitters that may be relevant to areas of strategic interest and military operations.
For France, maintaining this capability is linked to its ability to conduct independent intelligence assessment, continuous strategic monitoring and operational decision-making. The CASSIOPÉE system is therefore being developed as part of France’s broader effort to maintain a sovereign space-based electromagnetic intelligence capability.
Airbus and Unseenlabs Highlight Partnership
Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus Defence and Space, said the contract contributes to France’s sovereignty and strategic autonomy and highlighted the partnership with Unseenlabs as evidence of the strength of the French space ecosystem.
Clément Galic, co-founder and CEO of Unseenlabs, said the company was proud to contribute its technological and operational expertise to the programme. He described CASSIOPÉE as a combination of Airbus’ established space-industry experience and Unseenlabs’ New Space expertise aimed at providing France with a sovereign space-based SIGINT system.
Unseenlabs was founded in 2015 by the Galic brothers and has developed a satellite constellation focused on detecting radio-frequency signals. The company initially focused on maritime surveillance before expanding into other areas and has launched more than 20 satellites.
The CASSIOPÉE contract formally begins work on the next generation of France’s space-based electromagnetic intelligence capability under the CELESTE framework.
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