IGA Patrick Aufort: «Strengthening an agile defence industry capable of ramping up production quickly»
At the Defence Innovation Forum (FID), held from 27 to 29 November, General Engineer Patrick Aufort, Director of the Defence Innovation Agency (AID), explains to IHEDN the agency's missions and trends in the sector: drones, AI, directed energy weapons, quantum technology, hypervelocity, etc.
International Session for the Indopacific: a week of dialogue and cooperation
From 17 to 21 November, the IHEDN is hosting the 55 international auditors of the International Session for the Indo-Pacific (SIIP) at the École Militaire, organised with the Directorate for Security and Defence Cooperation (DCSD) of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. We take a closer look at the programme and the HIMANTURA 25 mission currently underway in the region.
Sophia Mahroug: in Iran, «the Revolutionary Guards are seeking to free themselves from clerical authority».»
On the occasion of the IHEDN 2025 Science Awards, we interview the winner of the thesis prize, a historian whose work based on digital sources sheds new light on the rise to power of the «pasdaran», the pillars of the Islamic Republic for over four decades.
The European Union's space strategy
This fact sheet looks at European space strategy, beginning with a review of its history and then presenting the players and institutions involved. It then analyses the priorities of the European Space Act, the first regulation on space policy at European level, presented in June 2025. Finally, it highlights the EU's strategic ambitions in the space sector, as well as the limits and divergences that are still holding them back.
Competition and international rivalries
This fact sheet looks at international rivalries in the space sector. It begins by reviewing the major stages in the conquest of space, placing it in the context of competition between powers. It then presents the various geopolitical challenges posed by the conquest of space today, particularly in the context of Sino-American rivalry. Finally, it offers some perspectives on the weaponisation of space today.
Straits of Singapore and Malacca: an ongoing battle against piracy
Sea robbery is a major issue in this corridor, which is crucial to world trade. On the occasion of its next International Session for the Indo-Pacific (SIIP), the IHEDN takes stock of the situation and international cooperation on the ground with Commander Xavier Courbey and researcher Éric Frécon.
Opening of the first joint cycle between the Youth Cycle and the Business Intelligence Cycle!
On Monday 20 October 2025, the IHEDN inaugurated the 156ᵉ Cycle Jeunes en intelligence économique (IE) at the École militaire. The first to be organised in synergy between two of our sessions, marking a major development in the Institute's training strategy.
The European Space Agency, a crucial civilian player in defence and resilience
In the run-up to its tri-annual Council of Ministers, we take a look at the Paris-based international organisation, its civil and military activities, such as the Galileo satellite constellation, and its ambitious resilience programme, which will be put to the 23 Member States at the end of November.
General Baratz: "With or without AI, the military leader will remain responsible for his actions".
Lieutenant General Bruno Baratz, Commander of Future Combat, details the many implications of artificial intelligence for the French Army, particularly in the chain of command: the place of human analysis, responsibility, reliability, adversity, the question of energy in the field... A long interview.
Defence and risk prevention: the challenge of resilience
To mark National Resilience Day, we take a closer look at the growing inclusion of resilience in these sectors that are crucial to the country's security, with insights from Cédric Bourillet, Director General of Risk Prevention, and Sylviane Bourguet, Senior Civil Servant for Sustainable Development and Director of Territories, Property and the Environment at the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
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