AeroTime
• Clement Charpentreau
The French defense procurement agency has selected Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space to develop the IRIS ultra-high-resolution optical observation system. The satellites will replace three existing spacecraft, with improved imaging and faster access to collected imagery for French armed forces.
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The French defense procurement agency has selected Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space to develop the IRIS ultra-high-resolution optical observation system. The satellites will replace three existing spacecraft, with improved imaging and faster access to collected imagery for French armed forces.
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The Pentagon conditionally committed a $150 million loan to expand Rocket Lab’s Neutron production and launch capacity, as the company also reported more than $515 million in launch contracts. Separately, the USAF awarded Electra $4.7 million for EL9 acoustic testing, while France contracted Airbus and Thales to develop two IRIS reconnaissance satellites.
Tampa Microwave, a Thales company, is advancing tactical satellite communications intended to give dismounted military forces secure, reliable mobile connectivity through low Earth orbit and medium Earth orbit networks. The effort focuses on extending satellite access to personnel operating on foot.
LMT Defence and Thales Italia will explore using mobile-network infrastructure and defense 4G/5G to detect and counter drones, while Gallium Defense raised €7.1 million for a radar it says could cost €500,000. Separately, AeroVironment tapped Leonardo DRS to integrate power and thermal-management systems for the U.S. Army’s Enduring-High Energy Laser program.
MDA Space will build AURORA broadband digital phased-array antennas and controllers for the first 66 satellites in Europe’s IRIS² secure-connectivity constellation. The agreement with Thales Alenia Space is valued at more than €100 million, with the satellites scheduled to launch in 2029.
Thales says its cloud-native FlytEDGE platform is preparing to enter service with Qatar Airways and Delta Air Lines. The announcement, made at APEX FTE EXPO 2026, marks the platform’s transition toward airline operations as Thales continues to develop its inflight experience offering.
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Ukrainian defense technology company HIMERA and Denmark’s GomSpace have begun testing an experimental satellite for a communications network Ukraine aims to operate independently. In parallel, the EU is discussing reduced dependence on U.S. providers, while ESA has added four Galileo Second Generation satellites to its procurement plan, bringing the planned fleet to 16.
Romania’s Ministry of National Defence has selected Thales to supply four deployable primary and secondary radar systems. The equipment is intended to support civil and military airspace surveillance as well as approach and landing operations, extending Thales’ role in Romania’s air-defense and air-traffic surveillance infrastructure.
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