Airbus and Vietnam strengthen partnership on Space Observation

France and Vietnam have decided to strengthen their existing cooperation on Space domain.

On November 3 2021, in the presence of French and Vietnamese Prime Ministers, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), the French Space Agency (CNES) and Airbus signed a Letter of Intent on cooperation related to Earth-Observation satellite implementation.

This cooperation is aimed at facilitating the implementation of the "Vietnam Space Technology Program 2020 - 2030" Program.

After the first Earth-Observation satellite system named VNREDSat-1, built by Airbus, launched in 2013 and still fully operational, VAST is currently studying the development of the follow-up VNREDSat-2 Program. This program should significantly contribute to amplify Vietnamese space capabilities to address Vietnam needs, contribute to the economic development and advancement knowledge for societal well-being.

 In the frame of the VNREDSat-2 program, Airbus will work with VAST to define the solution for the future Vietnamese Earth-Observation system including a transfer of technology program.

In parallel, CNES and VAST will further explore areas of cooperation that will benefit from the VNREDSat-2 program implementation, in particular climate-related cooperation in the frame of the VietSCO program, capacity-building and education.