Aerospacelab wins €2.4 billion contract for European IRIS² satellites

Aerospacelab, a Belgian satellite manufacturer, has secured a contract valued at €2.4 billion to develop, build, and deliver 264 satellites for the European IRIS² program. This project aims to establish a secure European satellite constellation for defense and encrypted government communications, reducing the continent's reliance on American technologies such as Elon Musk’s Starlink.

The IRIS² network (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) is expected to consist of 348 satellites in total. Aerospacelab’s order covers approximately 75% to 80% of the planned low Earth orbit (LEO) fleet. To meet this massive demand, the company is utilizing its ‘Megafactory’ in Charleroi, which has a production capacity of up to 500 satellites per year.

This contract marks a significant shift in the aerospace industry from artisanal, single-unit manufacturing to large-scale, serial production of standardized satellite platforms. The first satellites under this program are scheduled to launch in 2029.