French Government Invests in Homegrown Radar Imaging Capability Amid Strategic Autonomy Push
The French government has awarded Loft Orbital a €50 million contract to develop its first sovereign SAR satellite, marking a significant shift in strategy for Paris. The program will see the development and launch of a single demonstration satellite, with Thales Alenia Space and TEKEVER France contributing to the SAR sensor payload. According to Loft senior marketing manager Sarah Preston, the effort represents a major milestone in the development of a national radar imaging value chain.