The European Commission has signed an implementation agreement with the SpaceRISE consortium to move IRIS² into full-scale deployment, expanding the EU’s secure satellite communications programme to 348 spacecraft. The revised constellation will include 330 satellites in low Earth orbit and 18 in medium Earth orbit, with first launches targeted for 2029.
IRIS² is designed to provide sovereign, secure and highly reliable connectivity for EU governments, defence and security forces, and emergency services. The updated architecture adds 66 satellites to the original plan and is expected to lift secure government capacity by 60% inside the EU and 54% outside it, according to the Commission.
Negotiations on the deployment framework began in January 2026 and were completed in early August. ESA and the SpaceRISE consortium, which brings together SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat, are the other main parties to the programme. Reuters also reported that Hispasat has separately been designated prime contractor for antennas, control systems and ground links in an IRIS² allocation valued at more than €1.6 billion.