French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans on Saturday to create a space command within the French air force to improve the country's defense capabilities.
Addressing military personnel a day before the Bastille Day parade, Macron said the new military doctrine setting up a space command would strengthen protection of French satellites. The investment involved had yet to determined.
"To give substance to this doctrine and ensure the development and reinforcement of our space capabilities, a space command will be created next September in the air force," Macron said, adding that it would later become the Space and Air Force.
Last year, French Defense Minister Florence Parly said she was committed to giving France strategic space autonomy in the face of growing threats from other powers amid a race in space militarization.
According to Reuters, the French military spending program for 2019-2025 has earmarked 3.6 billion euros ($4.06 billion) for investments and renewal of French satellites.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) aims to recognize space as a domain of warfare this year, four senior diplomats told Reuters in June.
U.S. announced a plan last year to create a new "Space Force" as the sixth branch of the military by 2020.
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