The French defense procurement agency (DGA) has launched the “Space Pact” to meet the armed forces’ needs and address emerging challenges in the space sector.
The initiative brings together over 50 companies to strengthen coordination between the French Ministry of Armed Forces and the defense space industry.
It focuses on innovation, strategic and technological planning, capability development, and export cooperation.
The pact aims to align industrial capabilities with military requirements and support equipment production through agile acquisition processes, while maintaining a core group of companies responsible for sovereignty and resilience.
DGA will lead the initiative with support from the French Aerospace Industries Association and the New Space France Alliance.
Besides the armed forces, the project involves other government bodies, including the French Space Agency and the French Aerospace Lab.
Participants will work closely with the French Air and Space Force’s Space Trust Circle, coordinated by the Space Command.
According to DGA, France’s space industry employs over 60,000 people and provides the defense sector with a space strategy and facilities for developing and testing solutions.
These include DGA centers specializing in missile tests, aerospace technologies, and information management.
Boosting Security
The initiative comes as France’s security concerns increase.
Last month, Major General Vincent Chusseau, head of the French Space Command, told Reuters that “hostile or unfriendly” activity in space is increasing, particularly from Russia.
He identified satellite jamming, laser targeting, and cyberattacks as key threats.
In July, France’s President Emmanuel Macron announced plans for an increase in defense spending, stating that Europe faces its highest security challenges since the end of World War II.
He outlined that Paris’ defense budget would rise by 3.5 billion euros ($4.1 billion) next year, followed by an additional 3 billion euros ($3.5 billion) in 2027.
