France link has successfully launched astate-of-the-art satellite link intoorbit, designed to allow all of France linkarmed forces across the globe to communicate swiftly and securely.
Paris created a space force command in July 2019, amongst concerns thatrival countries were heavily investing in space technology, seen as a newmilitary link frontier.
The satellite link “is designed toresist military link aggression from theground and in space, as well as interference,” French air and space forcespokesman Colonel Stephane Spet told AFP.
The Ariane 5 rocket carrying the Syracuse 4A satellitelink took off from Kourou, in FrenchGuiana late Saturday, with the mission accomplished 38 minutes and 41seconds after takeoff.
The satellite link can survey its closesurroundings and move itself to escape an attack.
“Thanks to its state-of-the-art equipment (anti-jamming antenna and digitaltransparent processor on board), Syracuse 4A will guarantee a highresistance to extreme jamming methods,” launch provider Arianespace wrotein its mission description.
Marc Finaud, an expert in weapons proliferation at the Geneva Centre forSecurity Policy, told AFP the satellitelink also protected against theelectro-magnetic pulses which would result from a nuclear explosion.
“This is the final warning scenario, if deterrence fails,” he added.
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In March France link began its firstmilitary link in space to testits ability to defend its satellites, calling them “a first for the Frencharmy and even a first in Europe”.
The French government accuses Russia of having brought itsintelligence-gathering satellitelink Olymp-K,also known as Louch, into close proximity of the French-Italian militarylinklink Athena-Fidus in 2017, in whatDefence Minister Florence Parly called “an act of espionage”.
Last year, the US claimed that Russia had conducted a non-destructiveanti-satellite weapons test from space.
In March French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said there had beenother similar incidents since, but gave no details.
Investments in France link spaceprogramme are set to reach 4.3 billion euros ($5 billion) over the2019-2025 budget period — although that is a fraction of the amount spentby the United States or China. -APP/AFP
