Aerospacelab has secured the prime satellite contract to build the LEO constellation segment for the European Commission’s IRIS² programme.

Under the agreement, the spacecraft manufacturer will construct 264 satellite platforms and deliver fully-integrated satellites. These units will establish the operational foundation for Europe’s sovereign, secure, and resilient connectivity infrastructure by 2030.

The procurement followed a competitive dialogue conducted with Eutelsat, which acts as the lead contractor for the low Earth orbit segment within the SpaceRISE consortium.

The IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) programme stands as the largest contract awarded in EU space history.

The multi-billion contract places IRIS² alongside established European programmes, including the Galileo navigation constellation, Copernicus Earth observation satellites, and Ariane launch vehicles, confirming the EU’s intent to operate as a full-spectrum space power.

The planned constellation will provide communications infrastructure for European governments, institutions, defence and security services, and citizens. Operational requirements mandate that the network remain immune to foreign interference, resilient against disruption, and accountable to European institutions.

Benoît Deper, CEO of Aerospacelab, said: “The selection of Aerospacelab for IRIS2 reflects a deliberate industrial choice, a defining moment for Europe as a whole.

“Institutions are now also placing their trust in a new generation of space manufacturers: companies like Aerospacelab, built from the ground up to deliver satellite infrastructure at scale and speed.”

Megafactory manufacturing for utility-scale orbital hardware

Aerospacelab will manufacture the 264 satellite platforms using industrial facilities developed across its operational expansion from a startup over the past decade. The company attributes this progression to European investment, technical talent, and industrial ambition.

The manufacturer is completing its Megafactory in Europe, an industrial facility designed to assemble and integrate space hardware at volume for multi-satellite programmes.

“At the heart of Europe, we have designed and are now completing our Megafactory: an industrial tool whose scale was built precisely for programmes of this magnitude,” says Deper. “Waking up knowing that we are building Europe’s strategic future is a rare privilege.”

Mathieu Costes, Operating Partner at AV and Chairman of the Aerospacelab Board, added: “This is a landmark award. This major multi-billion contract powerfully endorses Aerospacelab’s expertise and ability to deliver mission-critical space infrastructure at scale and on time.

“Delivering the IRIS2 LEO segment proves Benoit and the team meet the highest standards of resilience and performance required for today’s foundational communication networks.”

Costes stated that the contract positions the firm to meet growing international requirements for secure satellite systems.

“As Aerospacelab accelerates its growth journey, this achievement marks a pivotal moment,” Costes explains. “It propels the company into a new NEO-prime leadership position, uniquely equipped to answer the escalating global demand for secure, utility-scale satellite infrastructure.”

Industrial work will centre on the manufacture, integration, and testing of the 264 platforms at the Megafactory site. The completed satellites will be delivered into orbit to form the core LEO segment of the SpaceRISE consortium’s architecture.

European institutional, government, and defence users are scheduled to begin operating on the sovereign IRIS² network by 2030.

See also: Eutelsat and Skynopy deploy Global AKAR satellite ground network

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