Toulouse-based start-up U-Space has been commissioned by the French Ministry of Defence’s Defense Innovation Agency (Agence de l’innovation de défense) to carry out a low-earth orbit action demonstration for the French Space Command (CDE) in late 2025 – early 2026. The company, which specializes in the production of nanosatellites, will be partnered by the European group MBDA.
The aim is to use satellites to validate operational defense scenarios. Dubbed “TOUTATIS ”*, it aims to ensure that the French Air Force and Space Force are indeed capable of protecting themselves against any attempts at space interference.
An action satellite and a spotter satellite
In concrete terms, the demonstration will be based on two satellites. The first will be a “low-orbit action” satellite, with high maneuvering capability and a set of subsystems for autonomous approach and action. The second will be a “spotter” satellite with enhanced observation capabilities for space surveillance from orbit. Both satellites will carry out opposition or cooperation scenarios to test the performance of the low-orbit action satellite and the surveillance capabilities of the spotter satellite.
This experiment is part of the Defense Space Strategy and the 2024-2030 Military Programming Law (LPM).
Founded in 2018, U-Space has a factory in the Montaudran district that should eventually be able to manufacture more than 300 nanosatellites a year. The start-up aims to become a European leader in the nanosatellite constellation market by 2025.