EU IRIS² Network Prioritises Military and State Users

The EU plans a 348-satellite IRIS² network for secure connections used by governments, the military and critical services; private individuals are expected to use it later. The system is also designed to close mobile coverage gaps across Europe and Africa.

Military and public-sector priorities

IRIS² stands for “Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite.” The network will use quantum technology for encryption through EuroQCI, the European quantum communication infrastructure.

The planned constellation includes 330 satellites in low Earth orbit and 18 in medium Earth orbit. Another 66 satellites are intended to strengthen defence, security and emergency services. The European Commission projects a 60 percent increase in secured capacity for public-sector users in the EU, and a 54 percent increase worldwide.

The European Commission and the SpaceRISE consortium agreed on implementation in early August. The first satellites are scheduled to launch in 2029, and services should begin gradually in 2029 or 2030.

Airbus is building at least 66 satellites in the first layer for military communication, with those satellites due to be ready in 2029. The full low-orbit segment of 330 satellites has been allocated. Add OHB’s 18 medium-orbit satellites, and the network will total 348.

Companies and contracts

Germany’s role includes Bremen-based space company Orbitale Hochtechnologie Bremen (OHB). On 31 August, OHB signed a contract worth just under €1 billion with satellite operator SES for 18 IRIS² satellites in medium Earth orbit. Each satellite weighs around 2.6 tonnes at launch. OHB chief executive Marco Fuchs called the programme an important step towards greater European independence.

Aerospacelab, founded in 2018 and based in Charleroi, Belgium, is building 264 low-orbit satellites. The company says the order is worth €2.4 billion; delivery is due by 2030. A new Charleroi factory is planned to produce up to 500 satellites a year from 2027.

Germany’s share of the project sparked disputes. In December 2023, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs sent companies involved a strongly worded letter demanding urgent clarification of German industry’s participation and its share in value creation, the Frankfurter Rundschau daily reported.

Launch capacity and military networks

Whether IRIS² can meet its schedule remains an open question. Operators that can’t launch satellites themselves still depend on rocket providers, and experts see launches as a bottleneck. Europe relies on Ariane 6, which has been launching since 2024. Andreas Knopp of the Bundeswehr University Munich told the weekly paper Das Parlament that launch numbers are limited. Political scientist Antje Nötzold of TU Chemnitz described a “launcher problem” to MDR.

Ariane 6 has launched four times so far this year. Three flights carried satellites for Amazon Leo, the US company’s satellite internet service intended to compete with Starlink. Amazon has booked at least 18 Ariane 6 launches. In early August, the Commission named the procurement of launch services for IRIS² as one of the next steps.

The Bundeswehr is also planning a national satellite network, financed by the federal government. Major General Armin Fleischmann, the Bundeswehr’s space commissioner in the Cyber and Information Domain, told regional public broadcaster MDR that it would be similar to Starlink, but smaller. “Flying Fritzboxes” in space: that’s what he told the Handelsblatt business newspaper they wanted. The network is initially intended to cover NATO’s eastern flank under national control, with individual components coming from Western partners, including the United States.

The Bundeswehr project, SATCOMBw 4, is planned to include a three-digit number of low-Earth-orbit satellites at full expansion and cost between eight and ten billion euros. An initial constellation of up to 40 satellites is scheduled to be operational in 2029, with full operations planned from 2030. The Bremen-based joint venture “OHB Rheinmetall Space Networks” is bidding for the contract. OHB would handle satellites, while Rheinmetall would supply ground stations and end devices. No decision has been taken.