France launched CSO-1 which is a new military imaging satellite and is the first of three identical satellites that are replacing France’s ageing Helios constellation. The next-generation of satellites is expected to achieve IOC by 2021 and will provide European military and civilian intelligence agencies with 800 very high-resolution black and white, color and infrared images per day. CSO-1 and CSO-3 scheduled to be launched in 2021, will each perform reconnaissance missions at 800km altitude. The CSO-2 will join its sister satellite in 2020 and will conduct identification missions at an altitude of 480km. The CSO satellites are a joint product of Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space.