CERES (satellite)

CERES
Mission type SIGINT
Operator French Armed Forces
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer Thales Alenia Space, Airbus Defence and Space
Start of mission
Launch date 2020

CERES (Capacité de REnseignement Electromagnétique Spatial, Space-based electronic signals intelligence capability) is a French military satellite program consisting of 3 formation-flying spacecraft collecting SIGINT.

Presentation

France has sent several signal intelligence demonstration mission into orbit. The most recent ones, the Essaim and Elisa, consisted in formation-flying spacecraft able to triangulate the location of radar and communication emitters, using the same principle as NOSS constellation. These pathfinder programs are to be replaced by an operational mission called CERES (Capacité de REnseignement Electromagnétique Spatiale), which will use 3 formation-flying satellites to locate and characterize electromagnetic emitters.[1] The launch is planned for 2020.[2] Thales Alenia Space will provide the EliteBus busses and Airbus Defense and Space the payload.[3] The program cost is estimated at 450M€.[4][5]

References

  1. ↑ (French) DGA press release
  2. ↑ (French) Air et Cosmos article, 04/03/2014
  3. ↑ Spacenews.com article
  4. ↑ (French) Air et Cosmos article, 31/03/2014
  5. ↑ "The Defense Ministry Launches Production of the First European Signals Intelligence Satellite". defence-aerospace.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
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