FRANCE ANTICIPATES USING GALILEO FOR MILITARY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 003421 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/ERA DEPT FOR OES/SAT E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2017 TAGS: ECON ESA TSPA TSPL SUBJECT: FRANCE ANTICIPATES USING GALILEO FOR MILITARY APPLICATIONS-RESPONSE TO C-WP7-01694 Classified By: Classified By: T. Smitham for reasons 1.5 (B/D). ¶1. (C) Summary: French officials in Brussels disclosed that the French military will look to use Galileo in the future. Using their interpretation of the existing European Space Policy, they explained that the legal framework is permissive of certain military uses of space assets, and that uses not currently covered will be discussed in the future. They added that Great Britain is alone among EU Member States in its opposition to using Galileo for military purposes. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The French Permanent Representation,s Counselors for Space and Transport explained on November 20 that the French military will look to use Galileo in the future. They explained that of Galileo,s five satellite navigation signals, the France plans to use the encrypted Public Regulated Service (PRS) in military operations. They explained that the existing European Space Policy allows for military use of space assets if a similar use can be found in the civil sector. As examples, they detailed that military air and ground vehicles have civil analogues for positioning and mapping and are therefore free to use Galileo in those functions. They conceded that under current policy, it would be impossible to justify using Galileo receivers for missile guidance systems, but this, along with several other areas, would be discussed in the future. (Comment: Though not explicitly stated, the French officials implied that in the future, they believed very few military applications of Galileo would be prohibited. End Comment.) ¶3. (C) When asked about their understanding of EU-wide support for military use of Galileo, the French officials explained that only Great Britain currently was opposed to the use of Galileo for military applications, instead remaining loyal to alliance with the U.S. on the use of GPS. They added that UK opposition will not limit other Member States, military use of Galileo, as the existing Space Policy leaves military use of space assets to the Member States. ¶4. (C) The French officials added without being prompted that they believe Europe, and particularly French engineers, have solved all problems related to the protection of the PRS signal. They explained there was early concern the PRS signal could be hijacked by hostile forces, but new encryption and anti-jamming capabilities have eliminated that possibility. This was apparently partially in response to U.S. concerns that the signal was not sufficiently protected for use in military environments. They went on to state that France is in favor of future talks with the U.S. on matters of GPS and Galileo for security purposes. They were positive on the idea of beginning the security working party underneath the GPS-Galileo Agreement. MURRAY .