Western allies are taking their space cooperation to new levels. The United States and France are preparing another joint satellite manoeuvre, part of a series of missions designed to sharpen allied military capabilities in orbit.
The move, disclosed by Lieutenant General Douglas Schiess of the US Space Force, follows the Pentagon’s recent partnership with Britain earlier in September. “We are planning an effort with France right now,” he confirmed. “I can see us doing more.”
If carried out, it will be only the third known joint satellite operation between the US and an ally, underscoring how rapidly military collaboration in space is evolving.
Why Space Security Matters Now
Space has become one of the most contested arenas of modern warfare. Satellites now underpin global navigation, communications and missile detection systems. But with China, Russia and the US all demonstrating anti-satellite weapons, the risk of disruption in conflict is growing.
Officials warn that manoeuvrable spacecraft capable of shadowing or interfering with rivals are raising the stakes. A single attack could cut off navigation signals or sever military communications, crippling operations on the ground.
For Washington and its partners, improving satellite manoeuvrability and building coalitions is now seen as central to defending their space assets.
France’s Expanding Military Space Role
France has emerged as Europe’s most significant government investor in space defence. Its Space Command said earlier this year that it was training with the US to boost coordination, strengthen cooperation and “demonstrate our strategic solidarity.”
Major General Vincent Chusseau, head of French Space Command, described the first Franco-American operation as “a success,” though he declined to give details.
That exercise, carried out late last year, was what US officials called a “rendezvous and proximity operation.” It involved an American and a French satellite moving close to one another in orbit near a spacecraft belonging to a “strategic competitor.”
Britain Joins the Club
The UK has also stepped into this new phase of allied space activity. Between 4–12 September, US and British satellites performed a joint operation in geostationary orbit, checking the health of the UK’s SKYNET 5A communications satellite.
Commercial space tracking firm Comspoc reported that a highly manoeuvrable American surveillance satellite, USA 271, approached the British spacecraft during the mission.
Major General Paul Tedman, head of UK Space Command, said the exercise was a milestone: “This represents a significant increase in operational capability. We are now, with our allies, conducting advanced orbital operations to protect and defend our shared national and military interests in space.”
Growing Warnings From the West
Across Europe and North America, military leaders have been sounding alarms about the vulnerabilities facing satellites. Their concern extends beyond classified military assets to include commercial constellations such as SpaceX’s Starlink, which serve millions of people worldwide.
France’s Space Command has been clear: it must be ready for “real-life scenarios” where satellites could come under threat.
As China accelerates its own space programme and Russia continues to demonstrate orbital weapons, the latest US-France operation is being seen as a signal that Western allies are preparing to push back more assertively.
