Why is Europe launching its own constellation of telecommunications satellites?

Two contracts were signed this Monday, December 16, in Brussels. They formalize the launch of the future Iris² constellation, whose budget reaches a total of 10.6 billion euros, financed by the European Union.

Iris2 will respond to the need for resilience and sovereignty

Certainly, there already exist telecommunications constellations in orbit for commercial purposes with OneWebOneWeb and above all StarlinkStarlink. But the European Union has chosen not to depend on it. Let us remember that in 2022, Elon MuskElon Musk had intentionally disconnected Starlink to prevent the Ukrainian army from using it to guide drones submarinessubmarines as part of an attack in Crimea. This reinforced the EU’s choice to have a constellation over which it has control.

« Our communications are under threat », Alerted European Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, in charge of space and defense affairs, on Monday. A former prime minister of Lithuania, he is well aware of the Russian threat, which cut submarine cables and jammed GPS and satellite communications signals early in the invasion of Ukraine. Iris² is a constellation that aims to be more resilient to possible future attacks against European communications.

Everything you need to know about EU Iris². © EU DEFIS

Constellation hybride

The security of government communications is the priority that influenced the design of the satellite constellation, as is the budget. Thus, Iris² will have 290 satellites, of which 264 will be placed in low orbit at 1,200 km altitude, 10 in very low orbit between 400 and 750 km altitude, and 18 delivered in medium orbit at 8,000 km altitude. Iris² will be complemented by the EU’s Govsatcom satellites which will be in geostationary orbit. The deployment of Iris² is due to begin in 2029 and will require 13 flights Ariane 6Ariane 6.

To design and build Iris², the European Commission called on the Spaceride consortium, led by the three major telecom operators in the EU: SES (Luxembourg), Eutelsat (France), and Hispasat (Spain). The consortium includes European satellite manufacturers Airbus Defense & Space, Thales Alenia Space, OHB, and plans to include New Space players. L’European Space AgencyEuropean Space Agency will participate in the development.

Can we talk about competition SpaceXSpaceX ? Not really in reality given that the constellation is above all a public program serving EU governments, in line with GalileoGalileo (GPSGPS European), and Copernicus (satellite imagery).