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Aerospacelab wins 2.4 billion euro contract for European IRIS2 satellite network
Belgian satellite manufacturer Aerospacelab has secured a 2.4 billion euro contract to build 264 satellites for the European Union’s IRIS2 (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) program. This project aims to establish a sovereign European satellite network to reduce strategic dependence on American providers, specifically Elon Musk’s SpaceX and its Starlink service.
Aerospacelab, a company founded in 2018, will act as the prime contractor for the low Earth orbit (LEO) segment. The company is constructing a 'Megafactory' in Charleroi, Belgium, designed to produce up to 500 satellites annually to meet the high-volume requirements of the constellation. The IRIS2 program, overseen by the European Space Agency, is intended to provide secure communications for European governments, defense sectors, and emergency services.
The first satellites in the IRIS2 constellation are expected to launch in 2029. The project involves a broader consortium, including Eutelsat, which manages the LEO segment, and Thales Alenia Space, which will provide telecommunication payloads.
Entities
Aerospacelab · European Space Agency · European Union · Eutelsat · IRIS2 · IRIS² · SpaceX
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The IRIS2 constellation will consist of a total of 348 satellites. www.bright.nl · businessam.be
- [● 5 SOURCES] Aerospacelab is constructing a Megafactory in Charleroi, Belgium, with a capacity of up to 500 satellites per year. newsbit.nl · www.astrospace.it · www.ingenieur.de · www.bright.nl · businessam.be
- [DISPUTED] The company will build 264 satellites for the IRIS2 constellation. newsbit.nl · www.astrospace.it · www.ingenieur.de · www.bright.nl · businessam.be
- [● 3 SOURCES] The first satellites for the IRIS2 network are scheduled to launch in 2029. www.astrospace.it · www.ingenieur.de · www.bright.nl
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Thales Alenia Space will provide telecommunication payloads for the 330 satellites in the LEO segment. www.astrospace.it
- [● 3 SOURCES] The IRIS2 project aims to reduce European dependence on American satellite services like SpaceX's Starlink. newsbit.nl · www.bright.nl · businessam.be
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Eutelsat is responsible for the low Earth orbit (LEO) segment within the SpaceRISE consortium. www.astrospace.it
- [● 5 SOURCES] Aerospacelab secured a contract worth 2.4 billion euros. newsbit.nl · www.astrospace.it · www.ingenieur.de · www.bright.nl · businessam.be