EU Commission signs deal expanding IRIS2 constellation to 348 satellites
European Commission · SES · Eutelsat · Hispasat · Airbus Defence and Space · Thales Alenia Space · OHB
The European Commission and SpaceRISE concluded a deal adding 66 satellites to IRIS2, taking the program to EUR15.6 billion.
what happened
The European Commission and the SpaceRISE consortium (SES, Eutelsat, Hispasat) concluded negotiations August 6 on an agreement adding 66 satellites to IRIS2's low Earth orbit shell, per ESA, SpaceNews, and Telecompaper. The expansion takes the main constellation to 348 satellites (330 LEO, 18 MEO) and raises the program's cost from EUR10.6 billion to EUR15.6 billion ($18 billion); SpaceRISE contributes EUR4 billion of that total, with the European Commission and ESA covering EUR11.6 billion. Hispasat was named prime contractor for the ground segment, per Breaking Defense. First satellite launches are targeted for 2029. Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said the deal will "boost secure governmental capacity by more than 60% within the Union." Payload reported the division of labor in more detail August 10: SES will design and build the 18 MEO satellite payloads and commit EUR1.35 billion; Eutelsat will invest EUR2.23 billion and lead development of the 330 LEO satellites; Hispasat will serve as prime contractor for the ground segment under a budget of more than EUR1.6 billion, has committed EUR600 million for commercial-use rights, and will lead a separate 20-satellite VLEO layer. Spain has committed up to EUR2 billion, Poland EUR656 million, and Hungary EUR500 million toward the program.
why it matters
IRIS2 is Europe's flagship sovereign satcom program, built explicitly as an alternative to Starlink for government, defence and emergency-services connectivity; the expansion locks in years of satellite manufacturing for Airbus Defence and Space, Thales Alenia Space, OHB, and Aerospacelab, and cements SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat as the operators running it. For connectivity resellers and government customers, it signals a sovereign LEO/MEO alternative to Starlink will carry meaningfully more capacity from 2029 than earlier planned.
for who
European government and defense connectivity buyers
signal-to-noise
quick facts
- Companies
- European Commission, SES, Eutelsat, Hispasat, Airbus Defence and Space, Thales Alenia Space, OHB
- Category
- procurement
- Impact
- major
- SNR
- 5 / 5
- Event date
- 2026-08-06
- Published
- 2026-08-07 17:35 UTC