Space, luxury or necessity: situations and prospects for France after the Livre Blanc and Opération Serval

by Guilhem Penent
Monday, July 29, 2013

Exceptions noted, space is traditionally perceived first and foremost through the many technological, scientific, political, and strategic benefits it provides, as witnessed by a few examples taken for The Space Review itself. It is rarer indeed to have it studied through a more operational military perspective: though well anticipated and not that new, the idea that space resources have assumed an essential place in battle management is dependent by definition on user experience and lessons learned from both operations and specific exercises¹.

As judged by the ongoing Opération Serval in Mali as well as France’s new 2013 White Paper on defense and national security, one can only imagine the progress made since 2008 regarding the use of space.

This is particularly the case in France as armed forces have only progressively been made aware of the contributions of space to the greater effectiveness of their actions on ground. Such a feedback is, however, irreplaceable. It is through the latter that French defense has learned how to deal with capabilities that were judged sometimes very narrowly and appreciate them at their true value. Without experience, there can be no knowledge, and therefore neither progress nor assimilation.
As judged by the ongoing Opération Serval in Mali as well as France’s new 2013 White Paper on defense and national security (Livre blanc sur la Défense et la Sécurité nationale, LBDSN), one can only imagine the progress made since 2008 regarding the use of space. We are a long way indeed from the debate that was going on a few years ago between those who were claiming that knowing without having the capacity to act is useless, and those who were noticing that, just as a car cannot drive at night without headlights regardless of the power of its engine, a modern war cannot be waged without timely intelligence.

Lessons learned

It wasn’t until 2010 that, in line with the recommendations of the 2008 White Paper, the Joint Space Command (Commandement interarmées de l’Espace, CIE) was created with an objective explicitly directed toward the use of space assets in support of military operations. Three years after, it clearly embodies the paradigmatic shift that has moved away the French defense from the capability-oriented vision that was dominant before.
As illustrated by various publications and conferences in France, valuable lessons have been learned.² There seems to remain no ambiguity: far from being a luxury, space now stands out as an essential complement. It is seen as a true necessity at both the political/strategic and operational/tactical levels.

CNRS and CNES renew partnership ties

July 16, 2013

Alain Fuchs, President of CNRS, the French national scientific research agency, and Jean-Yves Le Gall, President of CNES, the French space agency, signed a new three-year partnership agreement Tuesday 16 July at CNRS headquarters in Paris. This framework agreement extends the accord first signed in 1976 through which the two bodies are committed to combining their research efforts to study our planet and the Universe.

CNRS and CNES are well aware of their complementary expertise in science and technology research, and of the need to maximize the science value of public funding. The two organizations are pursuing a common vision to ensure optimal return from research employing space assets and they intend to consolidate cooperative ties through their renewed partnership agreement.

The two agencies have already worked together on many science and technology programmes using space assets to deliver great results in Universe sciences and environmental research, material and life sciences, engineering sciences and information and communication technologies. The successful CoRoT and Herschel missions—which recently came to an end—are perfect examples. The Planck mission is continuing its rich harvest of results, while the Megha-Tropiques mission studying the water cycle since 2011 and the SARAL/AltiKa altimetry satellite launched on 25 February are also gathering valuable data.

How satellite imagery helps insurers prepare for disasters

JACQUELINE NELSON

The Globe and Mail

Published Thursday, Jul. 11 2013, 7:22 PM EDT
Last updated Friday, Jul. 12 2013, 5:01 AM EDT

When floods ravaged Calgary last month, Swiss Reinsurance Co. Ltd., a firm that works with Canadian insurers, turned to satellite imagery to prepare for what is likely to be the biggest flood coverage payout in Alberta history. The shift toward this interactive technology is helping the industry respond to vulnerability created by a rise in severe weather events.

Advances in satellite image definition and computer processing power now allow insurers and re-insurers to create more precise maps of flood, tornado and hail zones. That speeds up predictions of how many claims insurers will receive and can provide enough information to cut down on the amount of time adjusters must wade through disaster zones. More importantly, the technology justifies higher premiums for properties in areas identified by the images as being prone to flooding, hail storms, tornadoes and other natural disasters.

Severe weather has been a growing concern for the insurance industry for many years, says Insurance Bureau of Canada spokesman Steve Kee. The frequency and severity of natural disasters has been on the rise in Canada, and Alberta has accounted for more disaster-related claims than any other province in recent years. In Calgary, insurers face payouts “much higher” than the $300-million they covered during Alberta’s last instance of major flooding, in 2005, Mr. Kee said.
As satellite imagery better illuminates risk, insurance premiums in some areas could rise, says Wayne Ross, vice-president of national property claims at Aviva Canada Inc., the country’s second-largest personal and commercial insurer. “All insurers are looking at risk by peril, and weather patterns are changing significantly. If you’re in a flood zone, they’re obviously going to take that into account in your water exposure. Or if you’re in a tornado zone and you’re looking at wind losses,” he said.