France

By Robert Wall
The French Vortex spaceplane demonstrator program will aim to validate heat shield technology and different control capabilities once it takes flight.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
HawkEye 360 is gearing up to start deploying a new generation of its electronic intelligence spacecraft that should slash production costs.
Satellites

By Thierry Dubois
Latitude’s Zephyr microlauncher will fly at the end of next year, a one-year delay from its earlier schedule, commercial director Adeline Pitrois said Sept. 17.
Commercial Space

By Robert Wall
Airbus and the French space agency CNES have agreed to extend the life of the two-satellite Pléiades constellation for another two years.
Satellites

By Robert Wall
The French government has disclosed a development contract with ArianeGroup for a further evolution of its M51 ballistic missile.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Thierry Dubois
CNIL has exceptionally authorized the use of biometric data for air traffic controllers’ clock-in and clock-out.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

By Thierry Dubois
The French Navy chief of staff says the program must be launched soon in order to transition from the Charles de Gaulle carrier in 2035-38.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Thierry Dubois
Safran Aerosystems has rearranged its production and maintenance activities for more periodical maintenance checks of evacuation slides for commercial aircraft.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
France says it has ordered a counter-drone laser system as a demonstrator with an eye on potentially fielding a system around 2030.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Thierry Dubois
The successor of the Charles-de-Gaulle aircraft carrier will embark radically different aircraft, including UAS, the naval chief of staff says.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Thierry Dubois
Blue Spirit Aero is pressing on with ground testing of a dedicated prototype of its Dragonfly hydrogen-powered light aircraft, gearing up for flight trials.
Emerging Technologies

By Robert Wall
France and Germany have pledged to jointly develop an early warning system for Europe as both EU countries aim to strengthen defense technology capability.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Thierry Dubois
Chems Chkioua will succeed Damien Cazé at the helm of France’s civil aviation authority, the Directorate General Of Civil Aviation, effective Oct. 1.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

By Thierry Dubois
X721, a Dubai-based startup created by former Airbus and Arianespace engineers, is developing a high-altitude platform station relying on a tethered rotor.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
The French Air Force has deployed the newly modernized Dassault Mirage 2000D to East Africa, the first deployment of the midlife upgrade operational in April.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Guy Norris
Aerial firefighting specialist Neptune Aviation Services is advancing its development plan for a next-generation air tanker based on the Airbus A319.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
The contract, awarded under what France calls the Paladin framework, adds to on-orbit maneuvering missions that France is pursuing.
Satellites

By Craig Caffrey
Europe's hope of reaching NATO's higher level of defense spending rests disproportionately with France and Germany, but a key potential obstacle is politics.
AWIN Knowledge Center

By Vivienne Machi
The U.S. military and several key allies have developed the first multinational concept of operations for space domain awareness.
Operations & Safety

By Robert Wall
Eutelsat is looking to grow its OneWeb operations to sustain its top line, bolstered by higher Ukrainian and French military-related sales.
Satellites

By Helen Massy-Beresford
Ryanair says it will reduce its winter capacity in France by 13%, stopping operations at three airports, cutting 25 routes and 750,000 seats.
Airlines & Lessors

By Robert Wall
The European cooperative armaments agency Occar has reached an agreement with industry to adjust the requirements for the Eurodrone UAS.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Helen Massy-Beresford
France’s transport minister Philippe Tabarot is not keen on the idea of more taxes for the sector, a position shared by France’s airlines.
Airlines & Lessors

By Robert Wall
MBDA has handed over the first Aster air and missile defense interceptors.
Missile Defense & Weapons