France and US Plan Second Joint Satellite Mission to Boost Space Defence
France and the United States are preparing a second joint mission to carry out coordinated satellite manoeuvres in orbit. The plan reflects a wider effort to strengthen allied intelligence and defence in space, as China increases its military presence beyond Earth, a senior US general revealed.
This will mark the Pentagon’s third known space mission with an ally. The first was conducted last year with France, while another with the UK took place earlier this month. These operations are designed to improve coordination between nations and sharpen satellite manoeuvring skills.
Rising Tensions in Space
Space has become a contested military domain. Satellites play a vital role in communications, missile detection, and battlefield intelligence. However, they face growing threats from major powers such as China, Russia, and the US, all of which have demonstrated anti-satellite weapons and manoeuvrable spacecraft.
Western military officials have repeatedly warned that any attack on satellites could disrupt GPS systems or cut off vital communication networks. This risk has pushed the US and its allies to develop stronger cooperation and prepare for potential conflicts in orbit.
Building International Alliances
Lieutenant General Douglas Schiess of the US Space Force confirmed the new mission with France but declined to provide details. He stressed that further collaborations with other allies could follow. France, which spends more on space programmes than any other European nation, has expressed interest in strengthening its military readiness through such joint exercises.
French Space Command said its focus is on improving coordination with partners and preparing for realistic space operations. Its commander, Major General Vincent Chusseau, described the first exercise with the US as a success, though he withheld specific details.
That initial exercise, known as a rendezvous and proximity operation, saw US and French satellites move close to one another near a competitor’s spacecraft. A second mission between September 4 and September 12 involved a US satellite and the UK’s SKYNET 5A communications satellite in geostationary orbit. Both units confirmed the manoeuvre, describing it as an important step in protecting shared space interests.
UK Space Command chief Major General Paul Tedman said the collaboration marked a major boost in capability. He emphasised that allied orbital operations now play a central role in defending national and military interests in space.
with inputs from Reuters