• France orders 2 IRIS satellites in a €1.5B+ deal.
• Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space are the contractors.
• The satellites will provide extremely high-resolution Earth observation for the French Armed Forces.
• The contract covers design, manufacture, testing, ground segments, and in-orbit operations.

This contract may indicate France's growing emphasis on sovereign space capabilities, which could signal a shift in European defense priorities. The deal's value suggests significant investment in military Earth observation, which could benefit Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space, and may set a precedent for future European space procurement.