France and Poland launch military satellite project

France and Poland have agreed to jointly develop a telecommunications satellite dedicated to supporting the Polish military, marking a significant step in strengthening defence and economic cooperation between the two countries. The project will be carried out by a consortium including Thales Alenia Space, Airbus Defence and Space, and Poland’s defence electronics firm RADMOR. The satellite will be placed in geostationary orbit, meaning it will remain fixed relative to a point on Earth at an altitude of over 30,000 km. This position allows it to provide wide-area coverage for military communications, though with lower transmission speeds compared to low Earth orbit systems like Starlink. The initiative is part of the European Commission’s broader “Readiness” defence strategy aimed at improving Europe’s self-reliance and military preparedness by 2030. The agreement was announced during a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Gdańsk. While the financial value of the deal has not been disclosed, it underscores growing strategic alignment between France and Poland, especially in defence technology and security infrastructure. Beyond the satellite project, the two leaders are also expected to discuss wider strategic topics such as nuclear deterrence and energy cooperation. The move comes amid broader European efforts to reduce reliance on foreign satellite networks and strengthen sovereign capabilities in space-based communications, particularly in light of concerns over the unpredictability of private operators like Starlink.