Airbus Defence and Space has signed an initial contract to design and manufacture satellites for the first low-Earth-orbit layer of the European Union’s IRIS² secure-connectivity constellation.
Eutelsat, which leads the LEO segment within the SpaceRISE consortium, has authorised Airbus and Thales Alenia Space to begin work. The initial layer will comprise at least 66 satellites, scheduled for delivery in 2029, and will provide sovereign military Ka-band communications for European users.
Airbus will manufacture the satellite platforms and perform final integration in Toulouse, using payloads supplied by Thales Alenia Space. The same high-volume production facility is already building new OneWeb satellites for Eutelsat.
IRIS² will combine satellites in different orbits to provide secure and resilient connectivity for European governments, businesses and citizens. The programme is intended to strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty and strategic autonomy while also offering services to international partners.