European Union Signs €10.6 Billion Agreement To Launch Satellite Constellation

European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission announced a €10.6 billion agreement to develop and launch a satellite constellation in a program known as the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite (IRIS).

According to the announcement shared by ESA, the multi-orbit constellation will have around 300 satellites and will be aimed at providing safe and fast communications for European nations, companies, and citizens.

The satellites will interconnect and will be placed in Low Eart Orbit—currently a crowded area—and medium Earth orbit. The duration of the IRIS project is expected to be 12 years, and it has been founded by ESA—with €550 million—, the European Union—with €6 billion—, and private companies—with over €4 million.

“The Commission has delivered on the Union’s imperative need for an autonomous and secure connectivity capability,” said Timo Pesonen, the European Commission’s Director-General for Defence, Industry, and Space. “IRIS underpins our strategic autonomy and defense capacity, promotes our competitiveness, and energizes public and private sector cooperation.”

The new alliance will allow the European organizations to gain independence and relevance in the space market, also competing with large companies in the sector like Starlink which currently has more than 6,700 satellites in orbit.

This project became the third large space program developed by the European Union joining others like the navigation satellite system Galileo.

“In an increasingly complex geopolitical world, ensuring resilient, secure, and fast governmental communications is essential,” said Josef Aschbacher, ESA’s Director General of ESA. “ESA’s excellence will foster innovation in the European space industry, boost European competitiveness, create jobs, and attract talents to Europe.”

Aschbacher’s call seems to be heard. In October, the director urged Europe to “raise its ambition” to keep up with the space innovations and compete in the market.