The deputies voted Thursday in favor of the deployment by 2030 of a new generation military observation satellite, added to the military programming bill (LPM) currently being examined in the National Assembly.
This measure was introduced by a government amendment, as it had promised. The Minister for the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu specified in the hemicycle that he had conducted “a certain number of negotiations with the industrialist”.
The sequel to CSO
This Iris military satellite is thus programmed within the framework of the LPM 2024-2030, without waiting as initially planned for the future post-2030 programming law. “We are delighted that the government has negotiated in this direction”, rejoiced the deputy LFI Bastien Lachaud, who had tabled an identical amendment.
Two French CSO spy satellites are currently in orbit. A third, which was to be launched at the end of 2022, is now “planned for 2024”, Lecornu recently recalled. The LPM project initially provided for the Iris program, which will take over from CSO, to result in the putting into orbit of two satellites between 2030 and 2035.
Replacement of equipment ceded to Ukraine
Another government amendment adopted Thursday by the Assembly provides for the order of “38 Jaguar armored vehicles and 92 additional Griffon armored vehicles” compared to the initial text of the bill, to replace equipment ceded to Ukraine after its filing. It is expected that the government will finance this measure “outside the budget resources of the LPM”.
The Assembly also adopted on Thursday evening amendments tabled by majority deputies, calling for studies to decide before 2028 whether it is necessary for the country to acquire a second aircraft carrier, in addition to the one whose construction is provided for in the LPM.
The bill, examined since Monday by the National Assembly, provides for an envelope of 413 billion euros over seven years, a clear increase compared to the previous budget of the Armies (295 billion for 2019-2025). The stated objective is to renovate equipment, modernize nuclear deterrence, improve the treatment of troops, renew equipment but also to invest in cyber, space and control of the seabed.