Summary Bullets:
• IRIS² aims to enter service by early 2031, providing internet access and secure communications for different applications, similar to SpaceX’s Starshield and Starlink.
• The EUR10.6 billion project funded by the EU, ESA, and consortium companies, aims to increase Europe’s strategic autonomy and unlock a new area for economic growth.
The European Commission has signed a concession contract for IRIS², the European satellite constellation announced two years ago, which will oversee the development, deployment, and operation of a network of secure, multi-orbital satellites.
IRIS², standing for Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite, will consist of approximately 290 low- and medium-earth orbit satellites. The first launch is expected by 2029, with the system promised to be operational by 2031. Due to technological advances, the system is claimed to be equivalent to 1,000 satellites. Additionally, there are plans for 10 or more satellites intended for “LEO Low” to support future technologies.
The satellite network will provide internet connectivity in addition to military applications, a feature that has demonstrated its advantages through Starlink’s military uses by the Ukrainian army.
While some compare IRIS² to SpaceX’s Starlink, its emphasis on secure, encrypted communications and military applications aligns it more closely with SpaceX’s Starshield, which offers additional capabilities such as object tracking and early missile warning. This focus was partly why Germany criticized the system in 2022, arguing that it prioritized government applications over providing internet access for all. Germany also expressed concerns about the project’s costs, describing them as “exorbitant” after they rose to EUR10.6 billion, nearly double the initially projected EUR6 billion.
The project’s contract is managed by the SpaceRISE consortium, the sole bidder, tasked with building and managing the network. The consortium of SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat, is supported by a team of European subcontractors, including Thales Alenia Space, OHB, Airbus Defense and Space, Deutsche Telekom, and Orange, among others.
Of the EUR10.6 billion project cost, the EU will contribute EUR6 billion, the European Space Agency will provide EUR550 million, and EUR4.1 billion will be funded by the three consortium companies (SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat) for the privilege of deploying and operating the system commercially for 12 years.
Elon Musk’s political influence and proximity to Donald Trump have probably accelerated the need for a Starlink alternative. This urgency, compounded by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, hastened developments, though the need for a non-US system was inevitable. Legislation for IRIS² was published in 2022.
In a way, this situation mirrors the development of satellite-based radio navigation systems. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is American, prompting Europe to develop its own system, Galileo, for “European independence.” Similarly, Russia has GLONASS, and China has BeiDou. No superpower wants to rely on another’s system if they can avoid it, ally or not.
Likewise, the deployment of LEO and vLEO systems is becoming more segmented by country as the demand for sovereign satellite communication systems, whether for military or connectivity purposes, grows. Countries such as Taiwan, Russia, and China are pursuing similar initiatives, suggesting we can expect more launches in the near future.