France Raises Alarm Over Growing Hostile Space Activity
France’s top space military commander has issued a strong warning about the rising number of hostile activities in space. Major General Vincent Chusseau, head of French Space Command, said threats in orbit have increased sharply since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Russia and China Under Scrutiny
In his first interview with global media since taking command, Chusseau highlighted Russia’s growing efforts to disrupt satellite operations. These include tactics such as signal jamming, laser interference, and cyberattacks. He described such activities as now being a routine part of space conflict.
While Russia has denied launching weapons into orbit, France and its allies remain concerned. Western nations have previously accused Moscow of using spacecraft to spy on satellites, including a 2018 incident involving a Franco-Italian satellite.
Chusseau also noted that China is expanding its space capabilities at a rapid pace. “Each day shows dizzying progress,” he said, referring to China’s satellite launches and evolving technologies that exceed past expectations.
Western Allies Respond to Space Risks
Other Western nations are voicing similar concerns. Canada, the US, and the UK have warned of increasing threats to vital space infrastructure. These satellites support military operations, banking, and energy systems.
UK Space Command Chief Major General Paul Tedman recently stated that the scale and speed of these threats are growing. At a recent space conference in Paris, Canada’s Brigadier General Christopher Horner revealed that over 200 anti-satellite weapons are now in orbit. He warned that these pose risks to communications, Earth monitoring, and overall space awareness.
Germany is also investing in stronger space defences. Major General Michael Traut, commander of the German Space Command, said Germany plans to complete the first stage of a multi-orbit satellite system by 2029.
France Prioritises Space Resilience
France is focusing on building resilience in its satellite systems, especially in low-Earth orbit. This effort comes in response to rapid expansion by commercial networks like Elon Musk’s Starlink. France has increased its stake in satellite operator Eutelsat, which operates OneWeb—a competitor to Starlink.
Chusseau added that France is developing its ability not only to observe but also to act in space. This includes the launch of demonstrator satellites to monitor orbit and possibly disrupt hostile assets. France also aims to enhance surface-to-space systems that could block or neutralise adversaries if needed.
with inputs from Reuters
