Poland will equip itself with two French observation and reconnaissance satellites and a ground data processing center, announced the Defense and Army Ministers of the two countries on Tuesday, December 27, in Warsaw.

The contract, whose delivery is expected by 2027, covers two Pléiades Neo units developed by Airbus Defense and Space, which are very high definition Earth observation satellites.

"This contract is proof of the deep ties that unite France and Poland in the field of Defence. This represents 500 jobs in France for five years", specified the French Minister for the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, on the sidelines of a visit to Warsaw where he met with his counterpart Mariusz Błaszczak.

The cost of this achievement is estimated at around 500 million euros, according to the office of the French minister.

During my trip to Warsaw, following my interview with @mblaszczak, France and Poland signed an agreement for the sale of two French observation satellites.



This major contract demonstrates Poland's confidence in our technology and industry.

pic.twitter.com/FXifR6boj2

— Sebastien Lecornu (@SebLecornu) December 27, 2022

Until then, Poland, a member country of the EU and NATO, will obtain access to data provided by the current constellation of French satellites.

"From 2027, we will have two satellites in the colors of Poland," said Polish Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, stressing that the new system can be used "military and civilian".

This contract "contributes to the strategic autonomy of Poland in terms of observation and understanding of the situation", underlined Sébastien Lecornu, the first French Minister of the Armed Forces to go to Poland for more than six years, that is to say since the case of the breach by the Polish nationalist government of an agreement on the purchase of 50 Caracal helicopters.

After a stopover in Warsaw, Sébastien Lecornu is expected in kyiv on Wednesday.

With AFP

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