Airbus Signs First Production Contract With Eutelsat for Europe’s Sovereign IRIS² Satellite Network

Airbus Defence and Space signed its first contract with Eutelsat during the International Space Summit in Paris on September 9-10, 2026, to build 66 low Earth orbit (LEO) Ka-band satellites for the first layer of the IRIS² constellation. The satellites are due for delivery in 2029 and will be built at Airbus’s facility in Toulouse.

At a Glance

Signing venue and date: International Space Summit, Paris, September 9-10, 2026
Parties: Airbus Defence and Space and Eutelsat
Scope: 66 LEO Ka-band satellite platforms for IRIS²’s first layer
Manufacturing site: Airbus’s facility in Toulouse, France
Delivery target: 2029
Parallel deal: Thales Alenia Space separately signed to supply the governmental communications payloads for all 330 satellites across the full constellation

Background

IRIS² is the European Union’s sovereign satellite network, designed to deliver secure, “Hard Gov” connectivity for EU institutions, member-state governments, defense and security actors, and crisis-management authorities. The program combines low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites in an interlinked hybrid architecture. The European Commission signed a 12-year concession contract with the SpaceRISE consortium — SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat — in December 2024, while the European Space Agency (ESA) oversees the constellation’s technical implementation, qualification, and in-orbit validation. Alongside Airbus, Aerospacelab has also won platform-manufacturing contracts under the program, with Thales Alenia Space and Aerospacelab tasked with delivering the fully integrated satellites.

Regional Impact

Türkiye is not part of IRIS² since it is not an EU member, but the program illustrates how strategically important sovereign, secure satellite communications infrastructure has become for defense and crisis response. Türkiye is pursuing its own space sovereignty through the TÜRKSAT and GÖKTÜRK satellite families, while companies such as Altınay Defence advance SATCOM antenna and terminal technology. Multinational, multi-layer secure connectivity architectures like IRIS² could eventually open integration opportunities for Türkiye in comparable NATO-aligned satellite initiatives.

FAQ

How many satellites will IRIS² have? The full constellation comprises roughly 330 satellites across LEO and MEO; Airbus’s share covers at least 66 LEO satellites in the first layer.

When will the satellites be delivered? Airbus’s LEO satellites are scheduled for delivery in 2029.

Who runs the program? The European Commission signed a 12-year concession with the SpaceRISE consortium (SES, Eutelsat, Hispasat); ESA oversees technical implementation.