Airbus and Unseenlabs to build France’s future spy satellites

Airbus Defence and Space and the French company Unseenlabs have been selected by the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) to develop France’s future spy satellites under the Cassiopée program.

Scheduled for completion by 2032, the Cassiopée program aims to renew France’s space-based signals intelligence (SIGINT) capabilities. This technology will allow for the collection and analysis of electromagnetic signals, such as radar and telecommunications emissions, to monitor potential threats in strategic zones. The system is intended to succeed the current Ceres constellation, offering improved technical performance and increased reactivity.

Airbus will serve as the system integrator, providing the ground segment, control center, and a satellite solution based on its S250 platform. Unseenlabs, a specialist in signal detection and geolocation, will act as a co-contractor. The program is a central component of the Celeste initiative, designed to ensure French national sovereignty and autonomy in strategic situational assessment.