US and France expand joint satellite maneuvers amid rising space rivalries

The United States and France are preparing for a second joint mission involving coordinated satellite maneuvers, a senior U.S. general revealed, marking another step in strengthening allied space surveillance capabilities as China expands its military activities in orbit.

The planned operation would be the Pentagon’s third known mission conducted in space with an ally. It follows the first-ever joint maneuver with France late last year, when two military satellites coordinated in orbit, and a recent U.S.-UK operation earlier this month.

Space has become an increasingly contested domain, with satellites vital for communications, missiledefense, and battlefield intelligence facing growing threats. China, Russia, and the U.S. have all tested anti-satellite weapons and developed maneuverable spacecraft, raising concerns that attacks in conflict could disrupt GPS navigation or cripple critical communications.

Lieutenant General Douglas Schiess of the U.S. Space Force told Reuters that planning with France is underway, noting the country is Europe’s largest government spender on space. He added that more joint efforts with other nations are likely. Western officials, including those from the U.S., Canada, and Europe, have warned of escalating threats to both military and commercial satellites, such as SpaceX’s Starlink network, which serves millions worldwide.

French Space Command has emphasized the importance of preparing for real-world military space operations. Its commander, Major General Vincent Chusseau, described the initial maneuver with the U.S. as a success, though he declined to provide specifics. That exercise, according to U.S. Space Command, involved a U.S. and French satellite conducting a rendezvous near a “strategic competitor’s” spacecraft.

The UK also conducted its first joint maneuver with the U.S. earlier this month. Between September 4 and 12, a U.S. satellite moved to inspect the British communications satellite SKYNET 5A in geostationary orbit. The mission, which involved satellites traveling at nearly three kilometers per second, was hailed as a milestone in advancing orbital defense.

Major General Paul Tedman, head of UK Space Command, said the mission marked “a significant increase in operational capability,” reflecting how the U.S. and its allies are ramping up cooperation to secure their national and military interests in an increasingly hostile space environment.

Source: Hindustan Times