Inauguration of French Space Command installation on November 12, 2025: declaration of its initial operational capability

Organization : CDE / Published : November 12, 2025

On Wednesday 12 November, in the attendance of the President of the Republic, the French Space Command (CDE) inaugurated its installations at the General Robert Aubinière Space Air Base 101 in Toulouse and declared its initial operational capability on this occasion.

Inauguration des infrastructures du Commandement de l'Espace

The President of the Republic, Mr Emmanuel Macron, visited the CDE's offices in Toulouse on Wednesday 12 November to inaugurate its new facilities. After a republican welcome, followed by a session devoted to military space operations, the event concluded with a presidential address presenting the new national space strategy.

The inauguration of the Space Command (CDE) installations on 12 November 2025 marks a key milestone in the CDE's operational ramp-up, six years after its creation. A factor in the credibility of French military space capabilities and the Space Defence Strategy (SSD), the commitment to achieve Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the CDE in 2025 has now been fulfilled:

  • An HR strategy aligned with objectives, enabling the recruitment of approximately 500 positions by 2030 and the strengthening of space expertise through appropriate training.
  • The delivery of operational infrastructure for the CDE in Toulouse, which hosts the majority of its personnel, at the ‘Général Robert Aubinière’ Air Base 101. The objectives of this unique location, a true catalyst for skills, are to bring together the CDE's units and services around the military space operations command centre. Located at the heart of the French space ecosystem, it promotes synergies with the CNES and the NATO Space CoE, whose building is co-located with that of the CDE. The CDE building will eventually house the majority of CDE staff, approximately 500 people. The NATO Space CoE building will have 60 people.
  • The combat asset of the Air and Space Force, it hosts the interim command and control (C2) system for space operations, which is essential for assessing the space situation, anticipating enemy manoeuvres and, ultimately, conducting operations in and towards space. This command post is designed to be fully connected to the C2s of other environments and linked to our allies in order to ensure the conduct of multi-domain operations in joint or allied manoeuvres.

The IOC is now entering a phase of reinforcement with a view to achieving full operational capability (FOC) with two priorities: strengthening joint operations support capabilities and accelerating the deployment of capabilities for action in and towards space.

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Inauguration des installations du Commandement de l'Espace

Inauguration des installations du Commandement de l'Espace Inauguration des infrastructures du Commandement de l'Espace Inauguration des installations du Commandement de l'Espace Inauguration des installations du Commandement de l'Espace Inauguration des installations du Commandement de l'Espace Inauguration des installations du Commandement de l'Espace

Photographie du colonel RIGAL, commandant de la base aérienne à vocation spatiale 101, accompagnant (de gauche à droite) :

  • le général d'armée aérienne BELLANGER, chef d'état-major de l'Armée de l'air et de l'espace,
  • le général d'armée aérienne MANDON, chef d'état-major des armées,
  • le général de division aérienne CHUSSEAU, commandant de l'Espace

En arrière-plan, on distingue des militaires en place pour la cérémonie sur la place d'armes. Au-dessus d'eux, on aperçoit le drapeau français qui flotte au vent.

Photographie (à gauche) du général d'armée aérienne MANDON, chef d'état-major des armées, et (à droite) du général d'armée aérienne BELLANGER, chef d'état-major de l'Armée de l'air et de l'espace.

En arrière-plan, on peut voir le général de division aérienne CHUSSEAU, commandant de l'Espace.

Photographie de la plaque inaugurale des nouvelles infrastructures du Commandement, de la lithographie offerte au Président de la République et du livre d'or de la base aérienne à vocation spatiale 101.

Photographie du Président de la République, Monsieur Emmanuel MACRON, lors de sa revue des troupes du Commandement de l'Espace.

Photographie du Président de la République, Monsieur Emmanuel MACRON, devant le drapeau et sa garde.

Discours du Président de la République, Monsieur Emmanuel MACRON, pour l'annonce de la Stratégie Nationale Spatiale (SNS). Derrière lui, le drapeau français et le drapeau de l'Union Européenne ainsi que l'inscription "armée de l'Air et de l'Espace". Face aux autorités, à la droite et à la gauche du Président de la République, on retrouve des militaires français représentant les personnels interarmées du Commandement de l'Espace, des militaires en formation à l'école de l'Air et de l'Espace ainsi que Thomas PESQUET et Arnaud PROST pour l'ESA. 

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