DGA Selects Airbus, Greenerwave, and Thales to Deliver Next-Generation CAMELEON Military SATCOM Terminals

Image credits: AIRBUS Defence and Space

France is taking another major step toward strengthening its military satellite communications capabilities. The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has awarded the CAMELEON framework contract to a consortium consisting of Airbus Defence and Space, Greenerwave, and Thales, marking a significant investment in the future of resilient, multi-domain defense communications.

The CAMELEON program will focus on the design, development, and production of advanced SATCOM terminals powered by Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) technology. These next-generation terminals are being engineered to provide seamless connectivity across multiple satellite constellations, frequency bands, and operational environments, giving the French Armed Forces greater flexibility in increasingly contested operational theaters.

Designed for modern military operations, the terminals will support communications across Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite networks while operating on X-, Ka-, and Ku-band frequencies. They are also intended for deployment across land, air, and maritime platforms, enabling reliable connectivity whether forces are stationary (On-the-Pause) or moving (On-the-Move).

Beyond research and development, the framework contract spans the complete lifecycle of the capability—from system design and engineering to manufacturing and an initial production batch—laying the foundation for future deployment within the French Armed Forces.

The consortium combines complementary strengths across France's defense and space ecosystem. Airbus Defence and Space contributes extensive expertise in military satellite communications and defense systems integration. Thales brings decades of experience in secure defense technologies and advanced communications, while Greenerwave, an innovative French SME, provides cutting-edge expertise in electromagnetic wave control and antenna technologies that underpin the PESA-based solution.

The award also highlights the growing importance of collaboration between established defense primes and emerging technology innovators. By combining industrial scale with breakthrough innovation, the CAMELEON program aims to deliver a new generation of SATCOM terminals capable of supporting increasingly complex military missions across multiple operational domains.

As armed forces worldwide seek more agile, resilient, and interoperable communications architectures, initiatives such as CAMELEON demonstrate France's continued commitment to advancing sovereign defense capabilities while preparing its military communications infrastructure for the evolving space-enabled battlespace.