Angola has signed an agreement with Airbus to build AngoSat-3, an earth observation satellite that will be used for military reconnaissance, territory monitoring, meteorology, natural resource inventory, climate studies and modelling, natural disaster prevention and monitoring.

The deal for the project, expected to cost approximately US$179-million, was signed in Paris by Angola's foreign affairs minister Manuel Augusto and his French counterpart Jean-Yves le Drian.

Airbus will handle the construction and orbital launch of the satellite which, when completed, will be Angola's third operational satellite.

Prior to the signing of the agreement in Paris, Angola's President Joao Lourenço signed a presidential decree officially contracting Airbus for the construction and implementation of AngoSat-3, according to the Angolan Official Gazette.

The decree showed the new satellite will enable the country to monitor its borders, collect information on remote areas, monitor forests, monitor deforestation trends, sea level rise, coastal erosion, marine pollution.

Once successfully launched into orbit, AngoSat-3 will have a lifespan of 10 years during which it will be managed by the Funda Centre, located in Angola's capital city of Luanda.

Angola's government said the latest project forms part of its National Space Strategy 2016-2025.

This is not the first time that Airbus will be building a satellite for Angola.

Angosat-2, a telecommunication satellite, was built by Airbus for approximately US$320-million according to Jose Carvalho da Rocha, Angola's telecoms minister.