Aerospacelab Secures €2.4 Billion Deal to Build 76% of EU's IRIS² Satellites
Belgium's Aerospacelab won a contract worth €2.4 billion ($2.8 billion) to manufacture the majority of the upcoming European Union's IRIS² secure communication network.
Aerospacelab, an eight-year-old Belgian company, announced on Thursday that it secured a €2.4 billion contract ($2.8 billion). The agreement covers the design, manufacturing, and delivery of 76 percent of the planned 348 satellites for the European Union's IRIS² network. This project will provide secure communications for government agencies, security services, and commercial users by 2030. Under this deal, Aerospacelab is responsible for producing 264 low-Earth-orbit satellites through a consortium led by Eutelsat called SpaceRISE. The contract value equates to approximately €9.1 million per satellite. This award represents the single largest disclosed manufacturing allocation for the entire network. The selection highlights a shift in Europe's space supply chain, where newer entrants are taking significant roles alongside established contractors like Airbus and Thales Alenia Space. Last month, the European Space Agency awarded launch services to Germany's Isar Aerospace, signaling that newer firms are expanding their responsibilities within institutional missions.
