France To Set Up New Space Defence Command

The French Air Force will be renamed the Air and Space Force (Picture: UK Space Agency).

France will set up a new space defence command in September, President Emmanuel Macron has announced.

Mr Macron said that the command would help to "better protect satellites, including in an active way". 

The French President announced this on Saturday, a day before the annual Bastille Day celebrations.

Mr Macron's proposal shows similarities with recent moves adopted by other world powers such as the United States, China and Russia.

Last year, US President Donald Trump ordered the formation of a sixth branch of the country's armed forces - a "space force".

Analysts say Mr Macron's proposal marks a switch from a defensive to an offensive posture.

The new French space command will be launched in September under the Air Force. The force will then be renamed the Air and Space Force.

French military operation in space include the launch of surveillance satellites and are budgeted to cost €3.6bn (£3.2bn) over the next five years.