On July 25, French Defense Minister Florence Parly announced her country’s plans to develop antisatellite (ASAT) laser weapons by 2023. Speaking at the Lyon Mont-Verdun military base, Parly argued that “If our satellites are threatened, we intend to blind those of our adversaries…We reserve the right and the means to be able to respond: that could imply the use of powerful lasers deployed from our satellites or from patrolling nano-satellites.” Earlier on July 13, President Emmanuel Macron declared his intent to create a new space command under the French Air Force.

