France has chosen Unseenlabs and Airbus to develop its next generation of spy satellites as part of the Cassiopée program. The goal is to enhance the country's military independence in space. The agreement, announced on September 11 by the Direction générale de l'armement (DGA), was highlighted by Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin during the International Space Summit. Under the contract, Airbus Defence and Space, in partnership with Unseenlabs, will design a new electromagnetic origin intelligence (ROEM) system, set to replace the existing Ceres satellites by 2032. Airbus will act as the project’s general architect, overseeing the system’s integration, building the control center, and developing the satellite platform based on the proven S250 model used in the CO3D observation constellation. Unseenlabs, a company based in Rennes, will contribute its expertise in mission planning and data processing, both on the satellite itself and on the ground. It will also supply the ground user segment and an innovative payload that will be key to the system’s capabilities. Unlike traditional imaging satellites, these new satellites will not take pictures. Instead, they will detect and analyze radar and telecommunications signals from sources on land, at sea, or in the air. This will help identify and locate potentially threatening equipment. Cassiopée is expected to be more advanced and responsive than the current system and will serve as the central component of the Celeste program, which encompasses all of France’s space-based surveillance capabilities. The main objective of the Cassiopée program is to ensure French sovereignty in intelligence gathering. These satellites will allow the French military to monitor sensitive areas and operational zones globally without relying on foreign partners. Alain Fauré, director of space systems at Airbus Defence and Space, noted that the contract supports France’s strategic autonomy. Clément Galic, co-founder and CEO of Unseenlabs, praised the collaboration as a partnership between a long-established aerospace company and a forward-thinking French New Space enterprise, highlighting the innovative potential of the project.