IRIS² Satellite Communications Project Secures First €1 Billion Contract

Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES has signed a deal with the German company OHB worth nearly €1 billion to develop and build satellites for the European IRIS² communications system.

The German manufacturer will produce 18 satellites for medium Earth orbit, according to European Spaceflight.

The launch mass of each satellite will be approximately 2.6 metric tons.

This contract marks the first major order under IRIS² after the program officially entered the implementation phase in early August 2026.

The total cost of the European project, aimed at creating a secure communications infrastructure for the EU, is estimated at €15.6 billion.

SES’s contribution to the deployment will amount to up to €1.3 billion.

The project is being carried out by the SpaceRISE consortium, in which SES is responsible for the medium-earth orbit, Eutelsat is deploying a low-earth orbit constellation of 330 satellites, and Hispasat is building the ground infrastructure.

The launch of the first IRIS² satellites is scheduled for 2029, and initial services are expected to begin in 2030.

IRIS² is a European Union project to create its own multi-tier satellite communications system.

Its goal is to provide the EU with secure, resilient, and independent communications without relying on private or non-European operators.

The system will serve both government and commercial purposes: from defense, governance, and diplomacy to high-speed internet in remote regions of Europe.

IRIS² is seen as Europe’s answer to Starlink. Part of the project’s budget will be covered by the EU, with the remainder coming from private investors.