The United States may have come up with the “Space Force” term, which is what the country’s newest branch of the military is called, but the idea is now being adopted by other nations as well. France has decided to create its own space command which will be tasked with defending its satellites. President Emmanuel Macron has approved plans to set up a space command within France’s air force by September next year.
During an address to military personnel a day before the Bastille Day parade, Macron said that this new space command is going to improve the protection of French satellites. The scale of the government’s financial investment in this initiative has not yet been determined, he added.
“To give substance to this doctrine and ensure the development and reinforcement of our space capabilities, a space command will be created next September in the air force,” Macron said, adding that this branch of the military will then be collectively called the Space and Air Force.
Countries haven’t been directly militarizing space so far but there have been indications that this is going to happen as some countries have tested anti-satellite missiles. Some have merely stated their intention to weaponize the space if deemed necessary. France, understandably, wants to make sure that it’s not unprepared for that eventuality.