Aerospacelab Wins 2.4B Euro IRIS2 Satellite Deal
Belgian firm Aerospacelab secured a 2.4 billion euro contract to build 264 satellites for the European Union IRIS2 secure communications network. The company will deliver 76 percent of the constellation through the Eutelsat-led SpaceRISE consortium by 2030.
Aerospacelab secured a €2.4 billion ($2.8 billion) contract on Thursday afternoon to build 264 satellites for the European Union's IRIS² network. The award covers 76% of the planned 348 satellites, marking the largest manufacturing allocation for the secure communications infrastructure. Belgium-based Aerospacelab will deliver the low-Earth-orbit satellites through the EUTELSAT COMMUNICATIONS-led SpaceRISE consortium.
The 8-year-old manufacturer's contract translates to €9.1 million per satellite, providing a clearer picture of industrial work sharing for the network. The IRIS² system is scheduled to offer secure communications for governments, security agencies, and commercial users by 2030.
