Engineering:IRIS²

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IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) is a planned multi-orbit satellite internet constellation to be deployed by the European Union starting in 2029.[1][2][3][4][5] Initial government services are expected to start in 2030.[6][7] IRIS² will consist of 330 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), at an altitude of 1,200 km, and 18 satellites in medium Earth orbit (MEO), at 8,000 km.[1] It is intended to provide secure communications, location tracking and security surveillance services to governmental agencies[8] directly comparable to the US SpaceX Starshield project.[9] The system aims to also provide broadband for private companies and citizens.[10]

Background

IRIS² is part of the EU's overall space strategy, including the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence.[11] The European Space Agency (ESA) is responsible for development and deployment of the system and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is responsible for the governmental service provision.[12] At contract signing in December 2024, the estimated cost was €10.5 billion, of which €6.5 was public funds.[13] At the start of the implementation phase in August 2026, the estimated cost was €15.6 billion.[1]

GOVSATCOM

EU's Governmental Satellite Communications (GOVSATCOM) programme, first announced in 2018,[14] is a precursor and an operational bridge to IRIS².[15] The programme pools the capacity of existing European governmental and commercial communication satellites in order to provide short-term secure satellite communications services to EU member states.[16] GOVSATCOM became operational in 2026 with eight satellites from five countries.[15][17][18]

History

Origins

The project was announced by the Council of the EU in November 2022.[2] A single multi-national industrial consortium, including Airbus Defence and Space, Thales Alenia Space and Arianespace among others, was tasked to develop it.[19][20] The constellation is expected to be launched by European rockets such as Ariane 6. The latter's first launch, initially scheduled for the end of the year 2022, was delayed several times,[21][22][23] and finally took place on 9 July 2024.[24][25][26][27] The contract was originally scheduled to be awarded by the end of March but the European Commission apparently put it on hold. At a meeting of an EU parliamentary committee on 9 April 2024, EU commissioner for the internal market, Thierry Breton, stated the commission was still finalizing the contract without providing an estimate regarding when it would be completed.[20]

In October 2024, the European Commission announced that the concession contract to develop, deploy and operate IRIS² had been awarded to SpaceRISE, a consortium of three European satellite operators— SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat— which would rely on a core team of 8 European space and telecommunications companies as subcontractors; they are Thales Alenia Space, OHB, Airbus Defence and Space, Telespazio, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Hisdesat, and Thales SIX. The European Commission stated that IRIS² would be funded by the EU, the European Space Agency and private financing, and that the satellite constellation would comprise 290 satellites in multiple orbits, with the governmental services expected to start operating in 2030.[28][29] The contract with SpaceRISE was signed in Brussels on 16 December 2024.[30][13]

Planning

After the February 2025 Trump–Zelenskyy meeting and subsequent suspension of all US military aid to Ukraine, the question arose how much longer Starlink services with its 7000 satellites would be available to Ukraine. However, IRIS² would not be in orbit until 2030 and the current European service Eutelsat OneWeb is much more expensive to use.[31] In April 2025, it was revealed that Germany has been financing Ukraine’s use of Eutelsat satellite internet services for about a year as an alternative to Starlink.[32]

In March 2025, Norway requested to join IRIS² and the negotiations with the EU started on 13 March.[33] Later in March, the Swiss satellite communication company WISeSat.Space announces the creation of a new subsidiary in Spain in order to align with the IRIS² programme.[34] In July 2025, Iceland has concluded talks with the European Commission to participate in IRIS².[35] In August 2025, the SpaceRISE consortium (Eutelsat, Hispasat, and SES) has narrowed the field of potential prime contractors for IRIS² to Airbus (France) and Aerospacelab (Belgium).[36][37] In September 2025, Poland allocated funds for six secure communications satellites, an additional contribution to the country's commitments to IRIS².[38][39]

On 27 January 2026, the EU announced that the EUSPA's GOVSATCOM programme, a bridge to IRIS²,[40] became operational, integrating eight satellites from five EU member states.[15][41][42] In March, Cyprus became the first country to use GOVSATCOM operationally, possibly in connection with the 2026 Iran war or the country's Presidency of the Council of the European Union.[40] On 26 March 2026, Norway and Iceland signed agreements to participate in GOVSATCOM and IRIS².[43] In June 2026, Germany has broken ground on a GOVSATCOM Hub in Cologne, one of two planned physical facilities supporting the programme which is a precursor to IRIS².[44][45]

On 21 July 2026, Poland formalised a €656.3 million contribution to IRIS², supporting the development of 12 satellites (six in medium Earth orbit and six in low Earth orbit) and the construction of a ground station in Warsaw[46][47] and later in July, the country signed memoranda of understanding with SES and Eutelsat for development of related technologies.[48][46] On 7 August 2026, the European Commission, ESA, and the SpaceRISE consortium, after seven months of negotiations, completed a review validating the programme's costs, technical requirements, and timelines. They announced an updated price (€15.6 billion) and an updated size of the constellation (348 satellites).[1] The partners agreed to move into the implementation phase of the project.[49]

Implementation

On 31 August 2026, SES awarded OHB an almost €1 billion contract to develop and construct satellite platforms for all 18 medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites of IRIS². SES leads the development of the MEO component satellites within the SpaceRISE consortium.[50] On 10 September 2026 during the International Space Summit in Paris, Eutelsat, which leads the development of the constellation's low Earth orbit (LEO) segment, awarded two contracts to Aerospacelab and Airbus Defence and Space to manufacture 264 and 66 LEO satellite platforms respectively, and another contract to Thales Alenia Space for delivering the communication payloads for all 330 LEO satellites.[51]

On 17 September 2026, the European Commission and South Korea signed an agreement on studying possibilities of the country's future integration with IRIS²[52] and ESA awarded 18 contracts worth a combined €20 million for studies of future applications and missions related to the ESA-led component of the low-LEO layer (below 750 km) of the constellation.[53][54]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Parsonson, Andrew (2026-08-08). "IRIS2 Gets Green Light With More Money and More Satellites" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/iris2-gets-green-light-with-more-money-and-more-satellites/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Council and European Parliament agree on boosting secure communications with a new satellite system" (in en). https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/11/17/council-and-european-parliament-agree-on-boosting-secure-communications-with-a-new-satellite-system/. 
  3. ↑ "Welcome to IRIS², Europe's new Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnection & Security by Satellites" (in en). https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/STATEMENT_22_6999. 
  4. ↑ "OBSERVER: Copernicus gets sibling— IRIS², the new EU Secure Communication Constellation". https://www.copernicus.eu/en/news/news/observer-copernicus-gets-sibling-iris2-new-eu-secure-communication-constellation. 
  5. ↑ "Europe wants its own ultra-secure satellite constellation" (in en). Le Monde.fr. 2022-12-25. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/european-union/article/2022/12/25/europe-wants-its-own-ultra-secure-satellite-constellation_6009100_156.html. 
  6. ↑ "IRIS² – the European Commission awards the concession contract to SpaceRISE consortium – European Commission" (in en). https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/iris2-european-commission-awards-concession-contract-spacerise-consortium-2024-10-31_en. 
  7. ↑ Caliman, Lucille (2025-03-11). "IRIS2: everything you need to know about this new European constellation" (in en-GB). https://www.polytechnique-insights.com/en/columns/industry/iris2-everything-you-need-to-know-about-this-new-european-constellation/. 
  8. ↑ "IRIS² | Secure Connectivity – European Commission" (in en). https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-space/iris2-secure-connectivity_en. 
  9. ↑ "Relax Elon — the EU isn’t an immediate threat to Starlink" (in en-GB). 2024-12-16. https://www.politico.eu/article/relax-elon-musk-eu-threat-starlink-iris2-broadband-internet/. 
  10. ↑ "Commission takes next step to deploy the IRIS² secure satellite system". 2024-12-16. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_6439. 
  11. ↑ "EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence | EEAS" (in en). https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/eu-space-strategy-security-and-defence-0_en. 
  12. ↑ "IRIS² | Secure Connectivity – European Commission" (in en). https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-space/iris2-secure-connectivity_en. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "SpaceRISE". https://www.spacerise.eu/article/iris-lifts-off-as-european-commission-and-spacerise. 
  14. ↑ (in en) COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT GOVSATCOM Accompanying the document Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing the space programme of the European Union, relating to the European Union Agency for Space and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1285/2013, No 377/2014 and No 912/2010 and Decision 541/2014/EU, 2018, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2018:328:FIN, retrieved 2026-08-22 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Parsonson, Andrew (2026-01-29). "EU Brings GOVSATCOM Secure Communications Service Online" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/eu-brings-govsatcom-secure-communications-service-online/. 
  16. ↑ "GOVSATCOM | EU Agency for the Space Programme" (in en). https://www.euspa.europa.eu/eu-space-programme/secure-satcom/govsatcom. 
  17. ↑ Gatti, Emma (2026-01-28). "EU launches government satcom program in sovereignty push" (in en-US). https://spacenews.com/eu-launches-government-satcom-program-in-sovereignty-push/. 
  18. ↑ "EU now has its own 'secure and encrypted' satellite communication system, Kubilius says". https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/01/27/eu-now-has-its-own-secure-and-encrypted-satellite-communication-system-kubilius-says. 
  19. ↑ Filloux, Frédéric (2023-10-21). "Europe weeks away from finalizing sovereign broadband proposal" (in fr). https://www.lexpress.fr/economie/high-tech/iris-petits-arrangements-entre-geants-du-spatial-europeen-W4J23ERTERFODFFSYYRHEAEDXE/. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "EU to delay space law, constellation contract". 15 April 2024. https://spacenews.com/eu-to-delay-space-law-constellation-contract/. 
  21. ↑ "Ariane-6 approche de son premier lancement". 7 March 2024. https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2024/03/07/ariane-6-approche-de-son-premier-lancement_6220691_3234.html. 
  22. ↑ "Europe’s Ariane-6 rocket maiden flight expected by summer, space agency boss says". 12 January 2024. https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/europes-ariane-6-rocket-maiden-flight-expected-by-summer-space-agency-boss-says/. 
  23. ↑ "1st launch of Europe's Ariane 6 rocket finally has June 2024 launch target". 3 December 2023. https://www.space.com/1st-ariane-6-rocket-launch-june-2024-target. 
  24. ↑ Amos, Jonathan (2024-07-10). "Europe's Ariane-6 rocket blasts off on maiden flight" (in en-GB). BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c19km33k1mpo. 
  25. ↑ Stephen Clark (2024-07-10). "Europe’s first Ariane 6 flight achieved most of its goals, but ended prematurely". Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/07/europes-first-ariane-6-flight-achieved-most-of-its-goals-but-ended-prematurely/. 
  26. ↑ Andrew Parsonson (2024-07-10). "Ariane 6 Anomaly Will Have "No Consequence" On Upcoming Missions". European Spaceflight. https://europeanspaceflight.com/ariane-6-anomaly-will-have-no-consequence-on-upcoming-missions/. 
  27. ↑ Adrian Beil (2024-07-10). "Ariane 6 successfully launches on maiden flight from French Guiana". NASASpaceflight. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/07/ariane-6-maiden-launch/. 
  28. ↑ IRIS² – the European Commission awards the concession contract to SpaceRISE consortium European Commission. 31 October 2024. Accessed 1 November 2024
  29. ↑ SpaceRISE wins IRIS² contract Advanced Television. 1 November 2024. Accessed 1 November 2024
  30. ↑ "Commission takes next step to deploy the IRIS² secure satellite system". https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_6439. 
  31. ↑ Aretz, Eckart. "Ukraine – aufgeschmissen ohne Starlink?" (in de). https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/europa/ukraine-starlink-102.html. 
  32. ↑ "Exclusive: Germany funds Eutelsat internet in Ukraine as Musk tensions rise". Reuters. 2025-04-04. https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/germany-funds-eutelsat-internet-ukraine-musk-tensions-rise-2025-04-04/. 
  33. ↑ "Norway to be ‘fully integrated’ member of EU’s secure communications, industry minister says". Euractiv. 2025-03-14. https://www.euractiv.com/section/tech/interview/norway-to-be-fully-integrated-member-of-eus-secure-communications-industry-minister-says/. 
  34. ↑ "WISeSat.Space Creates WISeSat España SA Subsidiary to Lead European Space Projects from Andalusia and Build a 100% “Made in Europe” Solution Aligned With the IRIS² Strategy". 2025-03-31. https://www.stocktitan.net/news/WKEY/wi-se-sat-space-creates-wi-se-sat-espana-sa-subsidiary-to-lead-zqnnzpl9o2r9.html. 
  35. ↑ "UK, Norway and Ukraine welcome to join EU's IRIS² space programme, says commissioner - Euractiv" (in en-GB). https://www.euractiv.com/section/tech/news/uk-norway-and-ukraine-welcome-to-join-eus-iris%C2%B2-space-programme-says-commissioner/. 
  36. ↑ Gorman, Douglas (2025-08-29). "Inside Aerospacelab’s Pitch to Build IRIS2" (in en-US). https://payloadspace.com/inside-aerospacelabs-pitch-to-build-iris2/. 
  37. ↑ Selding, Peter B. de (2025-08-19). "It's Belgium's Aerospacelab vs Airbus France for Iris2 LEO-High prime contract; decision by year's end" (in en-US). https://www.spaceintelreport.com/its-belgiums-aerospacelab-vs-airbus-france-for-iris2-leo-high-prime-contract-decision-by-years-end/. 
  38. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2025-09-17). "Poland to Commission Six Satellites as Added IRIS2 Contribution" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/poland-to-commission-six-satellites-as-added-iris2-contribution/. 
  39. ↑ Ward, Ben (2025-09-18). "Poland Just Dropped €470 Million to Launch Its Own Secure Satellite Fleet" (in en-US). https://orbitaltoday.com/2025/09/18/poland-just-dropped-e470-million-to-launch-its-own-secure-satellite-fleet/. 
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Parsonson, Andrew (2026-03-11). "Cyprus First to Use EU GOVSATCOM Secure Communications Service" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/cyprus-first-to-use-eu-govsatcom-secure-communications-service/. 
  41. ↑ "EU's own satellite communication system now operational – Kubilius" (in en). 2026-01-27. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/01/27/eu-now-has-its-own-secure-and-encrypted-satellite-communication-system-kubilius-says. 
  42. ↑ "EU governments’ satellite comms programme lifts off". Euractiv. 27 January 2026. https://www.euractiv.com/news/eu-governments-satellite-comms-programme-lifts-off/. 
  43. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2026-03-26). "Norway and Iceland to Join the EU's GOVSATCOM and IRIS2 Programmes" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/norway-and-iceland-to-join-the-eus-govsatcom-and-iris2-programmes/. 
  44. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2026-06-18). "Germany Breaks Ground on One of Two GOVSATCOM Hub Locations" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/germany-breaks-ground-on-one-of-two-govsatcom-hub-locations/. 
  45. ↑ "EU GOVSATCOM Hub Site in Cologne to further strengthen Europe’s Secure Satellite Communications" (in en). https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-govsatcom-hub-site-cologne-further-strengthen-europes-secure-satellite-communications-2026-06-25_en. 
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 Parsonson, Andrew (2026-07-21). "Poland Boosts Its Contribution to Europe’s IRIS2 Constellation to €656M" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/poland-boosts-its-contribution-to-europes-iris2-constellation-to-e656m/. 
  47. ↑ Faleti, Joshua (2026-07-22). "Poland to Build 12 IRIS2 Constellation Satellites after Agreement with the European Commission" (in en-US). https://spacewatch.global/2026/07/poland-to-build-12-iris2-constellation-satellites-after-agreement-with-the-european-commission/. 
  48. ↑ "Eutelsat and Poland sign strategic Memorandum of Understanding supporting Poland's participation in IRIS²" (in en). 2026-07-28. https://www.mynewsdesk.com/eutelsat/pressreleases/eutelsat-and-poland-sign-strategic-memorandum-of-understanding-supporting-polands-participation-in-iris2-3459346. 
  49. ↑ Gorman, Douglas (2026-08-10). "Europe’s IRIS2 Constellation Enters the Build Phase" (in en-US). https://payloadspace.com/europes-iris2-constellation-enters-the-build-phase/. 
  50. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2026-08-31). "SES Awards OHB €1 billion for IRIS2 MEO Satellites" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/ses-awards-ohb-e1-billion-for-iris2-meo-satellites/. 
  51. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2026-09-10). "Aerospacelab, Thales Alenia Space Secure €5.4 Billion in IRIS2 Contracts" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/aerospacelab-thales-alenia-space-secure-e5-4-billion-in-iris2-contracts/. 
  52. ↑ "EU and Korea deepen cooperation on secure satellite connectivity" (in en). https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-and-korea-deepen-cooperation-secure-satellite-connectivity-2026-09-17_en. 
  53. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2026-09-18). "ESA Awards €20M in Contracts to Study Future IRIS2 Services" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/esa-awards-e20m-in-contracts-to-study-future-iris2-services/. 
  54. ↑ Aeroespacial, Actualidad (2026-09-17). "La ESA moviliza 20 millones para explorar nuevas capacidades de IRIS² en órbita baja" (in es). https://actualidadaeroespacial.com/la-esa-moviliza-20-millones-para-explorar-nuevas-capacidades-de-iris%c2%b2-en-orbita-baja/. 

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