Space & Satellites defence companies in France

CILAS develops laser and optics systems for armed forces, including missile-guidance lasers, anti-drone systems and optical coatings for defence and space applications.

Exosens develops amplification, detection and imaging technologies for defence, night vision, surveillance, nuclear, scientific and industrial applications.

Designs, owns and operates spacecraft to provide inspection, life extension and end-of-life services for geostationary satellites, using autonomous vision-based navigation technology.

Builds the Zephyr small launch vehicle and Navier engines in France to deliver dedicated orbital access for small satellites from European spaceports.

AI-powered analysis of satellite and aerial imagery for defence intelligence. Now Safran AI after acquisition by Safran Group in 2024.

Look Up Space develops space surveillance and space domain awareness systems for detecting, tracking, analysing and protecting satellites and orbital infrastructure.

Detect and Track

Space surveillance capability for detecting and tracking orbital objects and events.

Radar

Radar technology for collecting orbital surveillance data as part of the Look Up Space architecture.

Develops laser light-shaping technology for optical ground stations, free-space laser communications and directed energy weapons for space and defence markets.

Builds cloud-native software for satellite command-and-control, pass orchestration and ground station monitoring.

Reusable micro-launcher for European sovereign access to space, developing Maia rocket. ArianeGroup subsidiary.

Maia Launcher

A 50-metre, two-stage mini-launcher available in reusable (500 kg to SSO) and expendable (1,500 kg to SSO) versions, powered by four Prometheus bio-methane/LOX engines with a 3.5-metre fairing and up to 4-tonne capacity to inclined orbits.

Maia Reusable First Stage

Europe's first reusable rocket first stage designed for vertical landing on an autonomous barge at sea, selected by ESA's BEST! initiative alongside Isar Aerospace to develop future European reusable space transportation.

Colibri Kick-Stage

An optional upper kick-stage with a cluster of engines that increases mission flexibility for multi-orbit deployment and constellation replenishment -- successfully completed dual-engine hot-fire testing and environmental qualification at Thales Alenia Space facilities in 2025.

Builds drag sails and solar sails for satellite deorbiting and deep space propulsion.

Smallsat constellation manufacturer providing sovereign communications and earth observation platforms for defence and government.

Builds space surveillance and situational awareness services that track satellites, catalogue debris and prevent in-orbit collisions for satellite operators and government space agencies.

MTOS 500mm Station

An array of four 500mm f/1.5 telescopes that work in synchronised rotation to detect objects as small as 7 cm across all orbits from 300 km to 40,000 km altitude, detecting up to 15,000 space objects per station in a two-week period.

CALM & COLA

A collision risk management service covering both the launch phase and on-orbit operations. CALM & COLA assesses conjunction risks, calculates avoidance manoeuvre options and provides actionable recommendations to reduce the probability of in-orbit collisions, integrating with operators' existing flight dynamics software via API.

RAMSES

A 12 million euro programme with ONERA to deploy five multispectral stations globally, combining visible and near-infrared sensors for day and night tracking across all orbits. Supported by France 2030, RAMSES extends Aldoria's surveillance coverage to objects previously undetectable in daylight or twilight conditions.

Anywaves builds space antennas, RF payload electronics and software-defined radio products for satellites, launchers and mission-critical spacecraft communications.

VILSA Software Defined Radio

Software-defined radio product line for flexible, high-performance signal processing in space RF systems and payload communications.

GNSS All-Bands Antenna with LNA Integrated Board

Navigation antenna supporting multi-constellation GNSS reception with integrated low-noise electronics for compact spacecraft platforms.

Ka-band TT&C Antenna

Telemetry, tracking and command antenna designed for robust spacecraft connectivity across demanding mission phases.

VILSA XDL X-Band Downlink Transmitter

X-band downlink transmitter for high-speed satellite payload data transmission between onboard systems and ground stations.

Space defence company developing Interceptor - the first air-launched spacecraft capable of removing dangerous objects from space in less than 24 hours. Founded by former MBDA and Thales missile engineers to intercept, capture and dispose of satellites, space debris, or potential threats in orbit.

Greenerwave develops smart reconfigurable RF materials and satellite communication terminals for sovereign connectivity, detection and defence communications use cases.

Hemeria develops tactical mission systems spanning space, ocean and constrained environments, including satellite platforms and strategic systems for defence customers.

Prométhée Earth Intelligence develops sovereign Earth-observation satellite services for security, maritime awareness and strategic monitoring missions.

SilMach develops hybrid MEMS components and energy-free sensing technologies used in aerospace, defence and other critical embedded systems.

Syntony GNSS develops positioning, navigation and timing technologies, including GNSS simulation, reception and coverage-extension systems for aerospace and constrained environments.

Direct-to-device satellite communications startup developing Golden Modulation technology for ultra-long-range, GNSS-free resilient connectivity. Partnered with Eutelsat, exhibited at Eurosatory 2024, and selected for French Tech 2030 by the Agence de l'Innovation de Défense.

French space propulsion company developing iodine and water-based in-orbit mobility systems for satellite constellations, orbital manoeuvring and sustainable space operations.

Turgis Gaillard develops defence and aerospace systems including the AAROK MALE drone, mission support capabilities and industrial services for armed forces.

Operates a LEO satellite constellation that detects radio frequency signals from ships at sea, tracking dark vessels that disable AIS transponders to avoid detection.