France's military in French Guiana is preparing for the first commercial mission of the Ariane 6 launcher, which is set to put a French military intelligence satellite into space. The launch from the Kourou base is key to Europe's efforts to build up its security autonomy amid the shocks caused by the US-Russia diplomatic rapprochement. “For us, this is obviously an important mission; it’s a highly sensitive launch,” explains General Patrice Hugret, head of Mission Bubo 25. During an exercise, a Fennec helicopter intercepts a Puma helicopter over the Guiana Space Center in Kourou. “We are capable of carrying out a destruction shot using the precision rifle,” says Captain Sebastien, pilot of the Fennec. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES