In a statement released January 21, 2026, the French space agency (CNES) announced it has awarded a contract to a consortium led by Loft Orbital to develop the DESIR (Démonstrateur des Éléments Souverains en Imagerie Radar) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery demonstrator.
The project, valued at approximately €50 million, is being conducted on behalf of the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) to foster a sovereign national radar imaging value chain for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) applications.
Building Sovereign Radar Capabilities
The DESIR mission marks a strategic shift toward French technological independence in low Earth orbit (LEO). By developing domestic SAR capabilities, France aims to complement its existing optical Earth observation assets with all-weather, day-and-night monitoring. This project follows a history of collaboration where TEKEVER previously secured its first contract with CNES to enhance inter-satellite communications. The DESIR program is designed to ensure that critical intellectual property and industrial building blocks remain under national control.
Consortium Architecture and Technical Specs
As the lead for the consortium, Loft Orbital is responsible for the satellite bus and the ground control segment. The mission will leverage Loft’s experience in hosting commercial and government payloads for rapid orbital deployment.
- Payload Lead: Thales Alenia Space will design and build the radar payload and user ground segment, drawing on their recent success with radar constellations for ESA’s IRIDE program.
- Active Antenna: TEKEVER France will develop the active antenna system integrated into the imager.
- Mission Profile: The demonstrator will support dual-use applications including maritime surveillance, environmental monitoring, and crisis management.
“We are delighted to be working closely with Loft Orbital and TEKEVER France on the DESIR program, a mission that will serve France’s space sovereignty in radar imaging,” said Hervé Derrey, CEO of Thales Alenia Space.
Timeline for Service Entry 2029
The DESIR demonstrator is expected to enter service in early 2029. Following launch, the mission will enter an operational phase lasting at least two years, during which the French government will evaluate the performance of this commercial consortium model for future sovereign capacity needs. Successful validation may lead to a broader constellation of radar satellites as part of the country’s defense space roadmap.
