France's military satellites
overhead24 follows 8 working satellites that GCAT classes as military and gives to France: 4 in low Earth orbit and 4 in geostationary orbit. In the last 30 days the event log recorded 2 orbit changes involving its military satellites. On 21 October 2026 they were predicted to pass over the fighting in 28 conflict areas 77 times, most often over the Russian Federation.
By orbit
from each satellite's newest elements| In low Earth orbit | 4 |
| In geostationary orbit | 4 |
By mission
GCAT categoriesCommunications
4 workingImaging (optical)
4 workingOrbit changes
last 30 daysChanges in orbit size or tilt between two public element sets larger than that kind of orbit shows between updates: the satellite fired its engines.
- SYRACUSE 4A changed orbit: orbit lowered by 2.3 km19 Oct, 03:40 UTC
- SYRACUSE 4A changed orbit: orbit raised by 1.6 km15 Oct, 14:08 UTC
Geostationary satellites
positions on 21 October 2026| Satellite | Longitude | Drift |
|---|---|---|
| SYRACUSE 4B | 6.5°W | stationed |
| ATHENA-FIDUS | 37.8°E | stationed |
| SYRACUSE 4A | 45.5°E | stationed |
| SYRACUSE 3A | 149.2°E | drifting west 6.72° a day |
Over conflict areas, 21 October 2026
predicted passesHow often France's working military satellites pass over places where UCDP recorded fighting this year, in the UTC day. Arrows: the last 7 days against the 7 before.
- Russian Federation6passes
- Niger5passes
- Mali5passes
- Colombia5passes
- Nigeria4passes
- Afghanistan4passes
- Sudan4passes
- Pakistan4passes
- Mexico4passes
- Ukraine4passes
- Iran3passes
- Somalia3passes
- Ethiopia3passes
- Iraq3passes
- Thailand2passes
- Central African Republic2passes
- India2passes
- Benin2passes
- Burkina Faso2passes
- Kenya2passes
- Haiti1passes
- Yemen1passes
- Syria1passes
- South Sudan1passes
- Democratic Republic of the Congo1passes
- Philippines1passes
- Cameroon1passes
- Chad1passes
Other countries
by working military satellites
Military class, mission and country: GCAT by Jonathan McDowell (CC BY 4.0). Working means CelesTrak lists it as operational, partly operational, backup, spare or on an extended mission, or it launched after CelesTrak's last list. Orbits, orbit changes, approaches and geostationary positions: worked out by overhead24 from Space-Track.org elements. Conflict areas: UCDP. See military satellites over conflict areas and how overhead24 works.