EC Accelerates IRIS² Deployment

The European Commission and the SpaceRISE consortium concluded negotiations and signed an implementation agreement to roll out IRIS², the EU's new flagship satellite constellation. The agreement, among other things, adds 66 satellites to low Earth orbit to the program, bringing the main constellation to 348 satellites, and moving it from planning to full-scale deployment.

The negotiations, which began in January, confirmed the program's key parameters and necessary adjustments, including the design, system capacity, deployment schedule, target price and private operators' investment. Under the agreement, European manufacturers have committed to delivering the additional satellites, designed with enhanced resilience. Concrete next steps are now in place to achieve first launches by 2029. Once operational, the constellation will provide sovereign, secure and highly reliable connectivity for European governments, defence and security forces, and emergency services across Europe. 

The EC, the European Space Agency, and the EU Agency for the Space Program, together with the SpaceRISE consortium and European industrial partners, have defined the next steps needed to deliver IRIS². These include finalizing the detailed design of the satellite constellation, preparing for satellite construction and the secure ground infrastructure, securing launch services, and progressively deploying operational connectivity services from 2029 onwards. The future constellation will comprise 348 satellites, consisting of 330 satellites in low Earth orbit and 18 satellites in Medium Earth Orbit, with additional optional elements to support specific missions.

IRIS² will be built through a strong Team Europe approach, combining the expertise of the EC, Member States, the European Space Agency, the European Union Agency for the Space Program and European industry. Under the public-private partnership, the SpaceRISE consortium (consisting of SES, EUTELSAT, and HISPASAT) and European manufacturers have committed to deliver the required space and ground infrastructure to meet the accelerated timeline. The industrial team includes major European space companies, together with numerous companies across the European supply chain. By design, the program will also generate opportunities for startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and mid-caps developing innovative space technologies.

IRIS² will enable authorised governmental users across EU Member States and participating countries, currently Norway and Iceland, to communicate securely and continuously during critical operations. Whether responding to emergencies, protecting critical infrastructure or supporting security missions, IRIS² will provide Europe with an autonomous and resilient connectivity capability. The faster deployment and increased capacity required for defence and security needs mean an additional investment. This investment will support enhanced satellite technologies and the deployment of the expanded constellation, while ensuring efficient use of existing programme resources.

Funding will come from a combination of EU budget resources for 2028–2034 and additional investments from Member States and third countries. Member States are already strengthening IRIS² through national investments to address specific additional needs. Poland and Hungary have already committed €656 million and €500 million respectively, while Spain has announced investments between €1.6 and €2 billion. Further Member State contributions are under consideration, with the relevant agreements currently being finalized.