ArianeGroup Participates in SparteX 2026 to Strengthen European Space Security

For the sixth consecutive year, ArianeGroup is taking part in the SparteX military space exercise (formerly AsterX), organised by the French Space Command (CDE – Commandement de l’Espace). Running from 8 to 27 February 2026 in Toulouse, this major exercise brings together military, institutional and industrial stakeholders, alongside international partners, with the goal of strengthening collective space resilience in a rapidly evolving operational environment.

While space has become a cornerstone of the global strategic balance, it is also an increasingly contested domain. Protecting assets in low Earth orbit (LEO) and across all orbital regimes is now essential to ensuring sovereignty, security and strategic stability.

Helix: A Leading European Space Surveillance Capability

As part of its contribution to SparteX 2026, ArianeGroup is deploying its Helix space surveillance service to provide real-time space situational awareness (SSA). Helix enables the detection, tracking, positioning and characterisation of space objects across all orbital regimes.

The service delivers very high-precision positional and orbital data, around the clock, meeting the needs of civil and military operators (particularly as a trusted operator of the Space Command) in terms of surveillance, tracking, and collision warning. It thus contributes directly to safeguarding satellites against accidental and intentional operational threats.

With 45 sensors located across 18 ground stations worldwide, Helix relies on Europe’s largest network of telescopes, fully developed, deployed and operated by ArianeGroup. This capability represents a strategic asset supporting the development of future French and European space programmes.

Responsive Space Systems and In-Space Operations: A New Capability

Building on its expertise in the space and defence sectors – notably through its involvement in the European Defence Fund’s Responsive European Architecture for Space (REACTS) project – ArianeGroup is bringing a new capability to SparteX 2026: Responsive Space Systems (RSS) and in-space operations, supported by advanced simulation tools.

This capability aims to deploy satellites or spacecraft, at very short notice, in order to:

• enhance existing space-based capabilities,
• replace assets that are damaged or lost, or
• respond to threats in orbit.

By testing the operational implementation of these solutions in response to emerging forms of conflict, SparteX 2026 marks a key milestone in the development of future space capabilities.

A Sustained Commitment to Space Security

Through Helix and its expertise in responsive launch and space operations, ArianeGroup reaffirms its long-standing commitment to providing Europe with the with the capabilities required to monitor, protect and defend its space infrastructure.

SparteX 2026 offers a further demonstration of this commitment: working alongside the armed forces and institutional partners to prepare the operational capabilities needed to safeguard Europe’s space security and sovereignty.