Engineering:IRIS²
| Country/ies of origin | European Union |
|---|---|
| Operator(s) | EUSPA, ESA |
| Type | Civilian, commercial and military |
| Status | Under development |
| Coverage | Global |
| Constellation size | |
| Total satellites | A few hundred, including up to 170 LEO satellites |
| Satellites in orbit | None |
| First launch | 2025 (expected) |
| Other details | |
| Cost | €6 billion |
| Website | defence-industry-space |
IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) is a planned multi-orbit satellite internet constellation to be deployed by the European Union by 2027.[1][2][3][4]
It is intended to provide service to governmental agencies as well as commercial service to private entities. Its conception is a direct response to an increasing number of large satellite internet constellations outside of the control of the EU, such as Starlink, OneWeb or the forthcoming Kuiper project.[4] The total cost of the programme is estimated at €6 billion,[5][6][7][8][9] to which the European Union itself will contribute €2.4 billion from 2022 until 2027.[10][11]
In addition to its use for communications, there are also plans to use IRIS² for space surveillance, and to detect high-altitude spy balloons.[12]
IRIS² is part of an overall EU space strategy that will include the forthcoming EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence.[13]
History
The project was first announced by the Council of the EU in November 2022.[1] (As of 2023), the project is still in its planning stages. In January 2024, it was reported European space giants were putting the final touches on a proposal for the sovereign broadband constellation amid the looming mid-February deadline to submit their best and final offer to the European Commission.[14] The constellation is expected to be launched by European rockets such as the Ariane 6.
See also
- Galileo (satellite navigation), the EU's satellite navigation constellation
- Satellite internet constellation
- Starlink
- Satellite internet
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "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/.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "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.
- ↑ Go-ahead for IRIS²: satellite broadband for rural and remote areas. European Union. 14 March 2023.
- ↑ Brussels gives green light to satellite constellation Iris². Le Monde. 18 November 2022.
- ↑ EU to launch its own communications satellite network. DW. 18 November 2022.
- ↑ EU seeks satellite array offers in space race with AI. Reuters. 15 December 2023.
- ↑ European space giants join forces for IRIS² . Space News. 2 May 2023.
- ↑ Go-ahead for IRIS²: satellite broadband for rural and remote areas. European Union. 14 March 2023.
- ↑ Adoption by the European Parliament of IRIS², Europe’s new Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnection & Security by Satellites. European Union. 14 February 2023.
- ↑ "EU hopes new satellites can spot spy balloons, spacecraft" (in en-US). 2023-02-14. https://www.politico.eu/article/thierry-breton-iris%c2%b2-satellite-spy-balloon-spacecraft-eu/.
- ↑ Flaherty, Nick (2023-01-24). "EU calls for 'single market' of space" (in en-US). https://www.eenewseurope.com/en/eu-calls-for-single-market-of-space/.
- ↑ Rainbow, Jason (2024-01-24). "Europe weeks away from finalizing sovereign broadband proposal" (in en-US). https://spacenews.com/europe-weeks-away-from-finalizing-sovereign-broadband-proposal/.
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