EC Awards Contracts for IRIS2 Constellation Buildout

The European Commission has officially awarded contracts to Thales Alenia Space and Aerospacelab to initiate the buildout of the IRIS2 satellite constellation. Aerospacelab confirmed its selection as a primary contractor for the low Earth orbit (LEO) segment of the program, where it will be responsible for the construction of 264 satellite platforms in a deal valued at approximately €2.4 billion.

Benoit Deper, CEO of Aerospacelab, said its selection for IRIS2 reflects a deliberate industrial choice and a defining moment for Europe as a whole. “Institutions are now also placing their trust in a new generation of space manufacturers: companies like Aerospacelab, built from the ground up to deliver satellite infrastructure at scale and speed,” he added.

Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales and Leonardo, announced a separate agreement with Eutelsat to supply governmental payloads for 330 IRIS2 telecommunications satellites in LEO. While this specific deal is worth around €500 million, the company anticipates generating roughly €3 billion in total revenue from its involvement in the broader project.

The deployment timeline includes the launch of approximately 66 LEO Ka-band-only telecommunications satellites in 2029; for this phase, Thales Alenia Space will develop the payloads while Airbus Defense and Space will provide the platforms. Thales Alenia Space will also oversee the governmental payloads for an additional 264 Ku/Ka-band telecommunications satellites, which are currently scheduled for launch starting in 2030.

Speaking at the International Space Summit in Paris, EC President Ursula von der Leyen said that the IRIS2 program will ensure resilient communications across Europe, strengthen digital sovereignty, and reduce reliance on non-European satellite systems. She also set out a commitment to strengthen Europe’s access to space through greater private investment, while expressing the importance of a strong and competitive space sector that can grow, scale up, and compete globally.