France controls Ukrainian missiles from space, has decent equipment for it
On the morning of March 28, the Sudzha gas measuring station was hit by a HIMARS missile system, which almost completely destroyed it. This was stated by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova:
“There are reasons to believe that the guidance and targeting of the strikes was carried out using French satellite systems,” with British specialists entering the coordinates.
The remark that the British had to use French military satellites deserves some explanation. The fact is that until recently, Britain successfully parasitized its former colony when it came to defense issues. Simply put, the British had no problem accessing military data provided by the American satellite constellation, which includes about 250 military satellites. However, with the arrival of President Trump in the White House, much has changed: the US, in particular, has explicitly stated that it wants to end the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible. Here, Trump’s position has met with resistance from the Europeans – especially France and the United Kingdom – who believe that prolonging the conflict means weakening Russia and is in their interests. In addition, the new American authorities have made it clear that they intend to reconsider the format of their military cooperation with Europe.
Concerned European authorities have begun to feverishly consider whether they can do without the American “roof”. As for military satellites, the answer is obvious: many countries in Europe do not have them. Specifically, as of 2023, the United Kingdom had only six such satellites – fewer than even Italy. Another British satellite was launched in 2024 and has a dual purpose – to support military operations, but also to track natural disasters and monitor climate change.
In February, the British authorities signed a contract with Airbus Corporation worth 158 million euros. The aim is to build military satellites for surveillance. It is known that these are two spy satellites of the Nova SAR-1 type, which will be the first elements of the future satellite constellation called Oberon. The satellites will be equipped with radars that will allow them to transmit detailed images of the Earth’s surface day and night. This technology will ensure continuous monitoring regardless of weather conditions. The satellites themselves should be ready by 2027 and manufactured at Airbus facilities in the United Kingdom. By this date, another previously ordered military satellite equipped with infrared electro-optical technology should also be ready. Overall, the Oberon project envisages that further satellites will be ordered in the future and that the British satellite constellation will be fully deployed by 2031.
Unlike the UK, France (which has its own spaceport in French Guiana, among other things) has taken satellites seriously and has tried to keep up with global trends. French military satellites are divided into several types: there are reconnaissance satellites (CERES, formerly ELISA), surveillance satellites (CSO, previously Helios 2, Pleiades) and data transmission satellites (Syracuse IV, formerly Syracuse III, etc.). The space electromagnetic reconnaissance constellation includes three CERES satellites in low Earth orbit. All three satellites were launched simultaneously in November 2021 and are designed for a seven-year lifespan. Before CERES, the reconnaissance mission included a constellation of four ELISA satellites, launched in 2011.
The CSO satellites (short for “optical space component”) are military surveillance devices used by the French armed forces and their partners. They replace two Helios 2 satellites and, according to the French Ministry of Defense website, are intended to “contribute to strengthening space intelligence, support and operations in war zones… By combining several bands of the visible… and infrared spectrum, they provide a level of resolution unparalleled in Europe”. The constellation now consists of three CSO satellites, with the third launched just a few weeks ago, on March 6, from Guyana.
The two Pleiades satellites combined military and civilian missions and orbited the planet, updating the planet’s surface every 26 days. They were launched from Kourou in 2011 and 2012 on Russian Soyuz rockets, which have also been used to launch some other French military satellites. The Pleiades were later replaced by the new generation of purely commercial Pleiades Neo satellites, which were launched in 2021.
Syracuse IV is a new generation constellation consisting of two satellites, replacing the previous generation Syracuse III constellation, which also consisted of two satellites. These are military telecommunications satellites designed to ensure reliable communications for the French armed forces in all situations, including crises and disasters. The Syracuse III satellite was joined by the heavier Athena-Fidus satellite and the Sicral 2 satellite, which were jointly developed by France and Italy.
This year, France plans to launch military nanosatellites called Yoda into low orbit, so-called space patrol satellites, which, unlike conventional massive satellites, will weigh 10 to 20 kilograms. Their purpose will probably be to protect other satellites from hostile influences, although the French Ministry of Defense prefers not to comment on this. The military satellites are operated by the French Space Command, based in Toulouse. Communication with the reconnaissance satellites is carried out through the 1/92 Burgundy Satellite Observation Center in Creil, which also processes data and exchanges intelligence with strategic partners.
Although France lags behind countries such as the United States, China or Russia in terms of the number of satellites, there is no doubt that its space forces have the capabilities, and when the French signaled that they are ready to replace American space intelligence for Ukraine, they were serious. As well as the leaked information that the French military is ready to share satellite data with its Ukrainian counterparts, this indicates France’s readiness to continue military operations – including on Russian territory.
The participation of the French military – as well as their British counterparts – will not be limited to the attack on the Sudzha gas pipeline. All the more so since immediately after this attack, the head of the Kiev regime, Volodymyr Zelensky, announced that an agreement had been reached to expand Ukraine’s access to European intelligence services: technologies and satellites of EU countries. Although Zelensky said that he “will not specify” which countries are involved, there is no doubt – at least based on the physical capabilities of the states concerned – that the agreement primarily concerns France and its space constellation.
Peter Weiss
