Archive · 10 Sep 2026
India and France expand space cooperation through private-sector deals
India and France have worked together in space for more than 50 years.
Now, private companies from both countries are signing new space agreements.
One deal will provide equipment for India’s planned network of 52 space-surveillance satellites.
The satellites are expected to be deployed between 2027 and 2030.
Another French company will launch two satellites for an Indian company developing orbital data centers.
A third agreement will help French and Indian companies study the microsatellite market.
The partnerships add private businesses to the countries’ long-running government space cooperation.
The two countries also work together on Earth observation, human spaceflight and planetary exploration.
Companies from India and France signed three agreements covering satellite launches, space surveillance and microsatellite technology.
Safran Space and Dhruva Space signed contracts worth more than €5 million for India’s planned SBS-III surveillance constellation.
The SBS-III constellation is planned to deploy 52 satellites between 2027 and 2030.
French launch provider RIDE! will launch two satellites for Indian orbital-data-center company TakeMeToSpace.
U-Space and AXISCADES will explore India’s microsatellite market under a phased “Make in India” roadmap.
- Who
- French and Indian space companies, including Safran Space, Dhruva Space, RIDE!, TakeMeToSpace, U-Space and AXISCADES, with wider cooperation involving ISRO and CNES.
- What
- Three agreements were signed covering satellite launches, space surveillance systems and microsatellite technology.
- When
- The agreements were announced on September 10, 2026, during the September 9–10 International Space Summit.
- Where
- The agreements were announced at the International Space Summit in Paris.
- Why
- The deals aim to expand commercial space cooperation, support India’s sovereign space capabilities and address growing demand for space technologies.
- Agreements
- Three new India-France private-sector space agreements
- Safran-Dhruva contracts
- Worth more than €5 million
- SBS-III constellation
- Planned to include 52 satellites deployed between 2027 and 2030
- Satellite launch deal
- RIDE! will launch two satellites for TakeMeToSpace
- Microsatellite partnership
- U-Space and AXISCADES will explore India’s microsatellite market
- Summit announcements
- The summit featured 51 announcements representing about €20 billion in contracts, investments and other commitments
- Long-term partnership
- India and France have cooperated in space for more than five decades