ESA awards contracts for four additional Galileo second-generation satellites

The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded contracts to Airbus and Thales Alenia Space for the construction of four additional second-generation (G2) Galileo satellites. This expansion brings the total number of G2 satellites ordered from each manufacturer to eight, following original contracts for six satellites each signed in 2021.

The new satellites are designed to enhance the European Global Navigation Satellite System by providing improved accuracy, increased resistance to jamming and spoofing, and enhanced cybersecurity protections. Technical upgrades include fully digital, reconfigurable payloads, advanced atomic clock configurations, and inter-satellite link capabilities. These features will allow the system to adapt to evolving user needs through new signals and services while in orbit.

Scheduled for delivery in 2031, the G2 fleet will eventually consist of 16 satellites. This expansion aims to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy and ensure the continuity of its satellite navigation services, which are vital for security, defense, and various societal applications. Thales Alenia Space will perform integration and testing at its Space Smart Factory in Rome, while Airbus will utilize its production facilities across Germany, Spain, and France.