The European Commission has awarded contracts to accelerate the IRIS² satellite constellation, a €10.6 billion project designed to strengthen Europe’s position in space and secure its digital sovereignty. The initiative, which aims to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink, will create a multi-orbit system of over 280 satellites. These will provide encrypted communication for governments and public agencies across the European Union and offer new commercial services.
Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency, called the project essential in a “complex geopolitical world,” highlighting its potential to boost Europe’s competitiveness and create jobs. IRIS² is Europe’s third major space endeavour, following the Galileo navigation system and the Copernicus climate monitoring network.
However, the project has faced delays due to disagreements over cost-sharing and industrial work allocation, particularly concerns raised by Germany. The rapid growth of Starlink has prompted renewed urgency to establish Europe’s own resilient space network.
The IRIS² consortium includes satellite operators Eutelsat, Hispasat, and SES. The first satellite launch is planned for mid-2029, with full deployment by 2030. Airbus and Thales Alenia Space, originally part of the SpaceRise consortium, have shifted to supplier roles after withdrawing due to economic risks.
IRIS² also faces competition from Amazon’s upcoming Kuiper network. As Europe moves to bolster defence and security collaboration, this ambitious project could ensure a robust digital infrastructure for decades to come.
Operations will be managed by the European Space Agency, with a central control centre based in Italy.