PARIS, — France has awarded a contract worth more than €1.5 billion (approximately $1.7 billion) to Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space to develop two next-generation military observation satellites under the IRIS programme.
France's Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) notified the companies on November 5, with the French Ministry of the Armed Forces announcing the contract on November 9, 2026.
Airbus and Thales to Develop Two Satellites
Airbus Defence and Space will act as the lead contractor. It will manufacture both satellite platforms, supply a significant part of the first satellite's instruments and manage the ground control infrastructure.
Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), will provide critical optical payload components for the first satellite and develop the complete next-generation optical payload for the second. The company described the second satellite's instrument as Europe's most advanced optical observation payload.
The programme will also involve European subcontractors, including Lynred, Pyxalis, Sodern, Safran Reosc and Air Liquide Advanced Technologies. The contract covers satellite design, manufacturing, testing, ground systems, in-orbit operations and maintenance, with work continuing until the end of the 2030s.
High-Resolution Imaging and Space Surveillance
The IRIS (Instruments de Renseignement et d’Imagerie Spatiale) programme will provide the French military with extremely high-resolution images of locations worldwide.
The satellites will use visible and infrared sensors to collect images during both day and night. Their technologies will include hyper-stable telescopes, active optics and highly sensitive digital sensors.
Artificial intelligence-based image processing will help improve image quality and speed up intelligence delivery to military users. The satellites will also monitor objects in orbit to support space surveillance and the identification of potential orbital threats.
Replacing the Existing CSO Satellite System
IRIS will progressively replace France's three-satellite Composante Spatiale Optique (CSO) constellation, launched in 2018, 2020 and 2025.
The first IRIS satellite is expected to become operational around 2033, taking over the primary intelligence-gathering roles of CSO-1 and CSO-2. The second satellite is expected to join the constellation by approximately 2035, providing further improvements in image resolution as the final CSO satellite approaches the end of its operational life.
The transition is designed to maintain continuous space-based intelligence coverage for the French armed forces.
French Space Command to Operate IRIS
Once operational, the satellites will be managed by France's Space Command (Commandement de l’espace), headquartered at Air Base 101 in Toulouse.
IRIS is a sovereign French programme designed to maintain independent access to military satellite imagery. However, it will remain open to cooperation with allied nations, allowing partner countries to access its intelligence data.
The programme will strengthen France's independent intelligence capabilities while supporting its domestic and European space industry.
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