Europe accelerates and expands satellite fleet as security needs grow
Europe is supercharging IRIS² with 66 more satellites for secure connectivity.
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- The EU and SpaceRISE will add 66 satellites to IRIS², expanding the planned constellation from 282 to 348.
- IRIS² is designed to deliver secure, reliable satellite communications for governments, defense forces, emergency services, and citizens.
- The European Commission moved the target launch date forward from 2030 to 2029 due to rising geopolitical tensions.
- Bloomberg says the IRIS² budget has increased from €10.5 billion in 2024 to €15.6 billion.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
The European Commission and the SpaceRISE consortium have agreed to accelerate the EU’s IRIS² space program development and add dozens more satellites to secure future communications.
IRIS² is the EU’s satellite network that aims to provide secure and reliable connectivity across the globe.
By setting up its own satellite network in space, Europe intends to become less dependent on foreign parties for satellite internet and communications, such as Elon Musk’s Starlink and Amazon Leo.
Originally, the plan was to launch 282 satellites in an orbit around the Earth.
However, due to geopolitical tensions and a changing security environment, the European Commission and the SpaceRISE consortium have agreed to add an additional 66 satellites to the IRIS² space program to provide secure and reliable connectivity for governments, defense forces, and emergency services.
The future constellation will comprise a total of 348 satellites, including 330 satellites in Low Earth orbit and 18 satellites in Medium Earth Orbit.
“This reinforcement will increase secure governmental capacity by 60% within the EU and 54% globally, while significantly expanding Europe’s ability to support critical missions during crises,” the EU’s executive branch says in a press release.
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In addition, the European Commission and the SpaceRISE consortium have agreed to accelerate the launch of the satellites into orbit. According to the original plan, the satellites would be launched in 2030. The launch has now been pushed forward to 2029.
Faster deployment and increased capacity require extra money. In 2024, a budget of €10.5 billion was cited, but according to Bloomberg, that number has now been increased to €15.6 billion.
“Today we are taking a decisive step forward for Europe’s security and digital sovereignty. This reinforced, faster-to-market constellation will give our Member States, emergency services, and citizens the resilient, autonomous connectivity they need now and in the crises of the future,” Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defense and Space, says in a statement.
The SpaceRISE consortium consists of three major European satellite operators: SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat. Companies such as Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Thales Alenia Space, OHB, and Airbus Defence & Space are involved in this consortium as well.
