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European Union IRIS² satellite programme implementation

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2026-09-17 02:39 UTC → 2026-09-27 05:38 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The European Union is transitioning its IRIS² satellite connectivity programme from the planning phase to implementation. The initiative aims to establish European digital sovereignty by providing secure, independent communications for government, defense, and emergency services, serving as an alternative to commercial providers like SpaceX’s Starlink. Following the August 2026 implementation agreement between the European Commission and the SpaceRISE consortium, major manufacturing contracts have been awarded. German aerospace company OHB has secured a contract worth nearly €1 billion from SES to develop and produce the 18 satellite platforms for the Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) segment. This agreement has influenced market sentiment, with Deutsche Bank Research raising its price target for OHB to 300 euros and maintaining a ‘Buy’ rating following the company’s inclusion in the TecDAX index. In the low-Earth orbit (LEO) segment, Belgian manufacturer Aerospacelab has secured a €2.4 billion contract to act as the prime contractor for the development, construction, and delivery of 264 satellites. ~~Aerospacelab will utilize its ‘Megafactory’ in Charleroi to support high-volume requirements.~~ Additionally, Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space have signed agreements with Eutelsat to begin producing the first layer of LEO satellites. ~~During a space summit in Paris, twenty-two European nations reaffirmed their support for~~ Recent developments also highlight the ~~project.~~ convergence of civilian and military applications, as OHB Sweden and Saab signed a letter of intent to cooperate on space-based defense capabilities. While the constellation is expected to consist of approximately 348 to 350 satellites, the project faces economic challenges as estimated costs have risen from €10.6 billion to €15.7 billion. ~~The European Commission is also negotiating Ukraine’s potential accession to the programme.~~ The first satellite launches are scheduled for 2029, with full services expected to be phased in between 2030 and 2032.

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