France has ordered two military Earth observation satellites from Airbus and Thales Alenia Space in a deal worth more than €1.5 billion, or US$1.7 billion, as Paris moves to preserve its space based image intelligence capability beyond 2035.

The satellites will form the new IRIS system and replace three existing orbiters in France’s CSO constellation. France’s Directorate General of Armament said Monday that IRIS will improve both image quality and the speed at which imagery becomes available.

According to the DGA, the satellites will capture extremely high resolution images during the day and at night. The system will operate across the visible and infrared spectrum and will be capable of gathering imagery around the world.

France is among the few European NATO members operating a sovereign constellation of advanced optical spy satellites. Many allied countries rely on lower resolution assets and intelligence provided by the United States.

French President Emmanuel Macron said in January that France was providing two thirds of the intelligence capabilities supplied to Ukraine. The planned satellites are intended to continue France’s independent orbital imaging capacity as the current CSO spacecraft reach the end of their operational lives.

“The IRIS program aims to ensure the continuity of this capability while improving performance to meet the needs of the forces in a rapidly evolving strategic environment,” the DGA said.

Airbus said in a separate statement that the contract is worth more than €1.5 billion for the entire consortium. Under the arrangement, Airbus will provide the satellite platforms and a “significant share” of the payload aboard the first satellite.

Airbus will also be responsible for the ground segment. Thales Alenia Space will develop the payload for the second satellite, supply critical elements for the first spacecraft and contribute to the system’s ground segment.

IRIS takes its name from the French abbreviation for Instruments for Space Intelligence and Imaging. The system will be operated by Space Command within the French Air and Space Force.

Although IRIS is being built around a sovereign French capability, the DGA said the program is “resolutely open to cooperation” with partner countries. That approach would allow participating nations to gain access to the system.

The first IRIS satellite is scheduled to become operational in 2033, according to the DGA. Both new spacecraft are expected to be in orbit around 2035, setting the timeline for France’s transition from the current CSO constellation.

The three CSO satellites were launched in 2018, 2020 and 2025, respectively. The initials stand for Composante Spatiale Optique, the existing system that currently supplies France with military optical imagery.

The DGA said it notified Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space of the order on Nov. 5. Identified subcontractors include Lynred, Pyxalis, Sodern, Safran Reosc and Air Liquide Advanced Technologies.

Thales said the first IRIS satellite will replace CSO-1 and CSO-2, maintaining the continuity of France’s space based imagery intelligence capability. After the final CSO satellite reaches the end of its operational life, the second IRIS spacecraft will “significantly enhance” image resolution performance.

The technologies developed for IRIS include what Thales described as a “hyper-stable” telescope equipped with active optics. The system will also employ ultra sensitive, high speed digital sensors and image processing based on artificial intelligence.

Thales owns 67% of Thales Alenia Space, while Italy’s Leonardo holds the remaining interest. Thales Alenia Space CEO Hervé Derrey said IRIS will integrate “the most advanced optical instrument ever built in Europe.”

The procurement ties together satellite platforms, optical payloads, processing technology and the ground infrastructure required to deliver imagery. With the first spacecraft planned for service in 2033, France is preparing years in advance to avoid a gap when CSO-1 and CSO-2 are replaced.