The industrial architecture of the European Union's secure communications constellation is now fully defined. Following the previous expansion of IRIS² to 348 satellites, the final contracts for all satellite platforms have been awarded, with Aerospacelab and Thales Alenia Space securing agreements totaling more than €5.4 billion.
These contracts, awarded by Eutelsat as part of the SpaceRISE consortium, focus on the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) component. Aerospacelab has been tasked with the design, manufacture, and delivery of 264 satellite platforms, a contract valued at €2.4 billion. These spacecraft, featuring dual Ku/Ka-band communications payloads, are scheduled for launch starting in 2030.
Payload and Integration Strategy
Thales Alenia Space has signed an agreement to provide the governmental communications payloads for all 330 LEO satellites. While the initial order is worth approximately €500 million, the total contract value is expected to exceed €3 billion. The responsibility for integrating these payloads into the platforms lies with Aerospacelab and Airbus Defence and Space, the latter of which will build the remaining 66 LEO platforms with Ka-band payloads, expected by 2029.
Completing the Orbital Puzzle
The LEO layer is just one part of the broader IRIS² strategy. The Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) component was previously addressed when SES awarded a nearly €1 billion contract to Germany's OHB for 18 satellite platforms. With these latest awards, the EU has now placed orders for all 348 platforms planned for the constellation, marking a critical step toward achieving digital sovereignty and reducing dependence on foreign infrastructures.
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