Completion of the programme’s First Rendez-Vous marks the transition from project definition to full industrial execution, Eutelsat said. Manufacturing, system integration and infrastructure deployment are now set to accelerate across Europe.
Eutelsat will be responsible for the design, deployment and operation of the IRIS² LEO segment. The constellation will comprise 264 satellites carrying dual Mil-Ka/Ku-band payloads and a further 66 satellites equipped with Mil-Ka-band payloads.
The company will invest €2.23 billion in shared IRIS² infrastructure and another €1.16 billion in commercial infrastructure covering the Ku-band payload and commercial ground segment. The spending will be phased between 2027 and 2034.
In return for the investment, Eutelsat will gain access to more than twice the capacity currently available through its OneWeb constellation. The company will also share fixed costs and research and development investments with other members of the SpaceRISE consortium.
Eutelsat estimates revenue generated from the additional capacity at more than €10 billion between 2032 and 2040. The period covers the initial concession agreement through 2036, while Eutelsat will retain access rights for the operational life of the satellites.
The first Ka-only satellites are scheduled for launch from 2029, while the commercial Ku-band LEO constellation is expected to be fully operational by mid-2032. The programme will extend Eutelsat’s LEO roadmap beyond the planned replenishment of OneWeb and support its connectivity services through 2040.
IRIS² will combine an inclined orbital architecture with beamforming antennas and 5G non-terrestrial network technology to direct capacity towards areas of greater demand. Fibre-optic inter-satellite links are intended to increase resilience, extend service availability and reduce dependence on terrestrial infrastructure.
The network is being designed for government, enterprise, mobility and other mission-critical applications, while supporting smaller and lighter user terminals. Eutelsat said the expanded architecture will provide additional capacity, improved service quality and more efficient use of network resources.
Airbus Defence and Space, Thales Alenia Space and Aerospacelab will provide manufacturing capacity for the IRIS² LEO constellation. Their involvement is intended to support the programme’s delivery schedule while expanding Europe’s industrial and technological capabilities.
Eutelsat will also extend its existing OneWeb constellation through 2034 to maintain service continuity before IRIS² reaches full commercial operation. The company plans to deploy another 229 satellites in addition to 440 new GEN1 spacecraft already procured, requiring investment of around €1 billion.
The company said the IRIS² investments remain consistent with its existing financial framework and required returns. Its capital expenditure plan through fiscal 2029 remains unchanged.
“Reaching this milestone is a defining moment for Eutelsat and for Europe’s space ambitions. We are now moving from planning to execution, with a clear focus on delivering a world-class sovereign, secure and resilient connectivity infrastructure,” Eutelsat Chief Executive Officer Jean-François Fallacher said.
“The additional public and private investment agreed today strengthens the programme with greater capacity, resilience and flexibility to meet Europe’s future connectivity and security needs. Eutelsat is proud to lead the deployment and operation of the IRIS² LEO constellation, building on the proven operational experience of OneWeb to ensure a seamless transition for our customers while reinforcing Europe’s technological leadership and strategic autonomy for decades to come,” Fallacher said.
