France and India regard each other as key partners in space technology and its applications. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and its French counterpart, the Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES), share a rich history of cooperation spanning more than six decades.

2. This partnership began in the early 1960s with the establishment of sounding rocket launch facilities at Thumba, India, and has since expanded across diverse areas of space activities. ISRO and CNES collaborated as equal partners in developing and realising two joint satellites: Megha-Tropiques, launched in 2011 to monitor the tropical atmosphere, and the Satellite for ARGOS and ALTIKA (SARAL), launched in 2013. Both missions were successfully placed into orbit using India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and have delivered valuable data for atmospheric studies, environmental monitoring, and ocean surface topography.

3. India’s first experimental geostationary communication satellite, APPLE, was launched in 1981, aboard France’s Ariane vehicle, marking the beginning of a decades-long partnership with Arianespace.

4. This long-standing collaboration between India and France in space technology and applications has matured over the years, now encompassing multiple domains and underscoring the robust strategic partnership between the two nations. ISRO and CNES continue to advance joint programmes in Earth observation, space geodesy, human spaceflight, next-generation launch vehicle technologies, and planetary exploration.

5. Cooperation in space was one of the highlights of the visit of the Prime Minister of India to France in April 2015, marked by the following key events:

• Joint ISRO-CNES Exhibition: A special exhibition was organised at CNES Headquarters in Paris to commemorate 50 years of bilateral space cooperation.

• Signing of MoUs: Two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), along with a programme for enhanced cooperation in space, were signed and exchanged between the two agencies.

• Release of Commemorative Stamps: Two postage stamps featuring the jointly developed satellites—Megha-Tropiques and SARAL—were unveiled during the visit.

• Visit to CNES Toulouse: The Hon’ble Prime Minister toured CNES facilities in Toulouse and received a comprehensive briefing on ongoing bilateral space cooperation activities.

6. A vision document, detailing the areas of cooperation in the future, was released during the visit of French President to India in March 2018. The vision document outlined the following key areas of focus:

• Bringing societal benefits of space technology

• Imaging Earth in high resolution

• Space domain and situational awareness

• Addressing the global challenges including climate change

• Cooperation in satellite navigation and related technologies

• Exploring the solar system and beyond

• Cooperation on Space Transportation Systems

• Developing technologies for human exploration of the universe

7. Subsequently, bilateral cooperation has expanded to include support for India’s prestigious Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. CNES is supporting ISRO with expertise in astronaut health monitoring, space medicine, and training for flight surgeons and mission control teams.

8. Building on the success of Megha-Tropiques and SARAL, ISRO and CNES are jointly developing the TRISHNA mission—a high-resolution thermal infrared Earth observation satellite. This mission will deliver critical data for water resource management, agricultural productivity assessment, and climate change impact studies.

9. The inaugural India-France Strategic Space Dialogue, held in Paris on 26 June 2023, reviewed ongoing cooperation and identified new opportunities in the civil, commercial, and defence space sectors. Key areas included the joint satellite mission, maritime domain awareness, payload accommodation, ground station support, and human spaceflight.

10. The second India-France Strategic Space Dialogue, held in New Delhi on 4 March 2024, assessed progress since the inaugural meeting and explored new opportunities under the “Horizon 2047” roadmap. These included implementation of the Defence Space Letter of Intent, government-to-government (G2G) initiatives, capacity building, and industrial partnerships. The dialogue reaffirmed space as a cornerstone of the bilateral partnership, emphasising joint satellite development, space situational awareness, and human spaceflight support.

11. Industrial and Start-up Partnerships: The Indian Space Association (ISpA) and the French Aerospace Industries Association (GIFAS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 9 October 2023 during the second edition of the Indian Space Conclave in New Delhi. This agreement aims to foster deeper understanding of space industry capabilities and explore business opportunities between India and France. It promotes enhanced business-to-business (B2B) and startup-to-startup collaborations, driving innovation and sustainable growth in the bilateral space sector.

12. India’s NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and France’s Arianespace are advancing their collaboration in commercial satellite launches. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 29 January 2024 establishes a long-term partnership to jointly address global satellite launch demands using NSIL’s LVM-3 and Arianespace’s Ariane-6 vehicles.

13. To date, India’s highly reliable PSLV has successfully launched four French satellites, while Arianespace has placed 24 Indian communication satellites into geostationary orbit on a commercial basis. France has proven to be a reliable supplier for components, spares and equipment for the Indian Space Programme.