EU signs IRIS² deployment agreement, expands constellation to 348 satellites

Published Aug 7, 08:31 AM UTC

The European Commission announced on Friday that it has moved its IRIS² satellite constellation into full-scale deployment, adding 66 satellites to the planned secure network. The Commission and the SpaceRISE consortium, led by SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat, signed an implementation agreement to begin construction. The main constellation will now have 348 satellites—330 in low Earth orbit and 18 in medium Earth orbit—boosting secure governmental capacity by 60% within the EU and 54% globally. Defence and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius stated the accelerated deployment will deliver early defence and security services ahead of schedule. The next phase involves finalizing satellite design, construction, launch services, and ground infrastructure. Operational connectivity is expected to begin gradually from 2029. The overall programme is valued at around €10 billion, with commitments from Poland, Hungary, Spain, Norway, and Iceland. The system is designed to complement or compete with commercial mega-constellations like Starlink, enhancing EU technological autonomy.