An investigation has been launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) and French aerospace group Arianespace into the failed launch of a rocket carrying a military spy satellite into space for the United Arab Emirates. Two minutes after take-off, a “major anomaly” sent the expensive, high-tech payload into the Atlantic—the first failure for Arianespace’s Vega rockets after 14 successful missions.
The two French-built Falcon Eye satellites, of which this was the first, were designed “to provide a wholly new capability to [the UAE’s] military,” according to defense analysts, “representing the most advanced optics France had ever sold to another country.” So much so that the program suffered significant delays as security regulations over certain component parts were worked through between France and the U.S.
Tensions remain high in the Middle East between the U.S. and regional allies on one side, and Iran on the other. The UAE is seen by Teheran as part of that enemy axis led by the U.S. and set against Iranian interests. One of the core military objectives of the Falcon Eye satellites is to monitor UAE’s borders—especially its long maritime shoreline. And when it comes to the integrity of that maritime border, given those ongoing tensions, that means monitoring the activities of Iran in the Persian Gulf.
As such, in failing to launch the first Falcon Eye satellite, the UAE has lost a major surveillance advantage. The satellites, which include Thales optics capable of earth resolution down to 70 centimeters, fall under the operational remit of Abu Dhabi’s Space Reconnaissance Centre (SRC), and local media heralded the potential to provide the military with “state-of-the-art capabilities in Surveillance, Intelligence, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance.”
Global News 
Leave a comment