Space in The French White Paper on Defence and National Security

June 19, 2008 at 1:09 pm | Posted in Space Law | Leave a comment

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

An English translation of The French White Paper on Defence and National Security has been released. As Arms Control Wonk points out the version is much shorter than the French version. It does however address the implications of Space for French defense and security and marks it as key. There is an entire chapter The Strategic Use of Outer Space, which notably states that France will not place weapons in space:

THE STRATEGIC USE OF OUTER SPACE
Outer space has become as vital for the global economy and international security as the sea, the land and the air. France, like all its EU partners, opposes the transformation of space into a new battlefield. France does not intend to deploy weapons in space and will continue its diplomatic efforts in favour of the demilitarization of space.

Conversely, satellites with their various applications – communication, observation, eaves-dropping, early-warning, navigation, meteorology etc – have become a necessary component of all our strategic functions. Therefore, France will make a major effort in the field of space applications, in line with our national security strategy.

This ambition will involve :

– Capabilities : We will ensure continuity and modernisation of our observation and communication satellites. In 2008, we will begin work on the ultra-high resolution MUSIS optical satellite programme, with an operational capability in 2015. France will develop a significant capability in ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) satellites, after the success of our experimental satellites in this field : the CERES satellite system will be completed by the middle of the coming decade. A ballistic missile detection and early-warning capability will be in place by 2020, preceded by an interim satellite system during the coming decade. Particular efforts will be made in the area of space surveillance, involving very high civilian and military stakes, capitalising on close links with our European partners.

Overall, European cooperation will be encouraged in the field of space application, notably in the form of asset-sharing. (mutualisation).

– Funding : The allocation of defence funds for space applications will be doubled during the coming years, starting from the current annual level of 380 million Euro.

– Organisation : Given the importance of outer space for defence and national security, space related doctrine, operations and programmes will be placed under the responsibility of a specific and dedicated Joint Space Command , under the authority of the Chief of Defence Staff. The Air Force will manage our space assets under the lead of this new command.

That one chapter isn’t the only place where the use of space for security and defense is mentioned though. References can be found . . .

In the Key Findings:

4. Knowledge and anticipation represent a new strategic function and have become a priority. In a world characterised by uncertainty and instability, The French White Paper on defence and national security knowledge represents our first line of defence. Knowledge guarantees our autonomy in decision-making and enables France to preserve its strategic initiative. It is knowledge which must be provided as early on as possible to decision-makers, military commanders and those in charge of internal and civil security in order to go from forecasts to informed action. Intelligence of all kinds, including from space and prospective studies, takes on major importance.

5. Protection of both the French population and territory is at the very heart of our strategy because of the existence of new vulnerabilities to which they are directly exposed. The goal is to protect the nation in times of major crisis while increasing its resilience defined as the “capability of public authorities and the French society to respond to a major crisis and rapidly restore normal functioning.” Reinforcing resilience requires a change in the means and methods of surveillance used over the national territory including land, sea, air and now space and to develop a more rapid and wider in scope, response capability for French public authorities. Communication and information systems and civil warning systems lie at the centre of the crisis management and preparedness system. One novel aspect is that operational goals in protection missions are now assigned jointly to both internal security services, civil security services and the armed forces. Coordination between civilian and military departments and agencies is one of the fundamental principles of the new strategy.

6. As regards our conflict prevention and intervention capabilities, the White Paper provides for the concentration on a priority geographical axis from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, the Arab-Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. This axis corresponds to the areas where the risks related to the strategic interests of France and Europe are the highest. The White Paper also takes account of the growing importance of Asia for national security and favours both presence and cooperation in this direction from the Indian Ocean. In parallel, France will preserve its prevention and action capabilities on the Western and Eastern seaboards of the African continent as well as in the Sahel, in particular to fight against trafficking and acts of terrorism. France will radically change the existing system of defence and military cooperation agreements to evolve toward a partnership between Europe and Africa and cooperation in defence and security which will favour the development and strengthening of African peacekeeping capabilities. The armed forces will retain sufficient assets in the West-Indies-French Guyana zone to be used for the protection of the Kourou space centre and the fight against narcotics trafficking. The Gendarmerie and civil security forces will be reinforced in the DOM-COM (overseas departments and territories). The White Paper also sets forth a series of guidelines for the intervention of French armed forces on foreign theatres.

In the Fifteen Prescriptions:

7. The priority given to satellites is manifest by doubling funding available for military programs (from a base of 380 M€ in 2008) and by establishing a Joint Space Command, under the authority of the Chairman of the Joint Staff. The Air Force will be tasked with the implementation and control of military space assets.

. . .

9. Intelligence collection depends heavily on high-definition day and night imagery, to be deployed as a successor program to the Helios satellite series (the MUSIS program). Eavesdropping is just as important and depends on a variety of assets based on land, at sea and in the air. A space-based capability will be added (the CERES program).

From the section titled New Security Parameters:

The possibility of sudden strategic upsets –
International uncertainty and instability give plausibility to scenarios of strategic upsets and surprises, differing from those risks for which our defence and security systems have been geared to previously. Apart from terrorism, we find at the heart of these scenarios developments such as the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, cyber-warfare, the emergence of new weapons as a result of technological breakthroughs. The risk of an attack breaking the “nuclear taboo” can not be ruled out. Many potential major regional contingencies have the potential to degenerate into a world-wide strategic upset. The offensive use of outer-space, applications flowing from nanotechnology, bio-technology, massive strides forward in computer technology, new sources of vulnerability of space-based assets, come to mind as well. But other “black swan” events may well arise, with substantial and unexpected strategic consequences.

In the section Strategic Functions:

1. Knowledge and Anticipation –
. . . A number of measures will be undertaken as a consequence. In organisational terms : the establishment of a National Intelligence Council, chaired by the President ; the designation of a National Intelligence Coordinator reporting to the President ; the drafting of a bill concerning intelligence-related activities ; the protection of defence and security-related secrecy and of intelligence personnel ; the optimization of the diplomatic network in order to improve the sharing of information between all agencies ; the coordination of horizon-scanning activities within the state on an interagency basis. In terms of human resources, career paths in intelligence will be improved, and an intelligence academy will be established ; additional specialists (notably engineers, computer specialists, imagery analysts, language specialists) will be recruited ; the acquisition of area expertise will be promoted. In technical terms, a major boost will be given to space-based applications, with a doubling of the corresponding budget.

. . .
4. Protection
In view of the evolving threat situation, the protection of our population and territory calls for a major overhaul. This implies the following priorities as part of an all hazards approach :
– the in-depth surveillance and control of our country and of its approaches as a permanent mission. This will naturally involve sea, land and air capabilities but also space-surveillance assets;
. . .
– the development and deployment by 2020 of a ballistic missile detection and
early-warning capability involving both surface-based over-the-horizon radar and
space based assets. Proof-of-concept and interim systems will be deployed
towards the middle of the next decade;

In the section A new military strategy: Increased freedom of action for France:

Operational superiority
France will continue to master those technologies that ensure operational advantage over all plausible adversaries.

The emphasis will be on:
– Means of information, communication, space-based assets;
– Force protection, particularly against cbrn and emerging threats;
– Long-range precision strike;
– The capability to operate in an urban environment, in contact with the
population;
– Naval superiority, especially in littoral waters;
– Air superiority;
– Air mobility.

In the section Industrial and Technological Priorities for 2025:

Space systems
France is the only European country to have developed ballistic missiles. As both the M51 missile and the Ariane-V rocket have completed the development stage, preserving our core competencies in such a strategic field is essential to our concept of deterrence and Europe’s access to space. France will maintain, on a national basis, the specific competencies it developed in the field of ballistic missiles – specifically, high performance inertial guidance and solid-state propulsion industrial and technological know-how.

For all other activities pertaining to space, satellites in particular, European efforts are too scattered to be effective. France will actively support the rationalisation of European space industry, with a focus on intelligence-gathering, navigational and communications satellites.

In National Security:A New Organization:

The Joint Forces Space Command
This Command will be under the authority of the Chief of Joint Staff. Space operations and programmes come under his responsibility. In particular he is in The French White Paper on defence and national security 16 charge of drafting the space operation doctrine. He monitors the action of the Air Force in its extended authority in the management of space assets.