欧盟与SpaceRISE签署IRIS²实施协议 星座增至348颗

IRIS² reinforced and accelerated as implementation advances On 7 August, the European Commission and the SpaceRISE consortium concluded negotiations and signed an implementation agreement to roll out IRIS², the European Union’s new flagship satellite constellation. The agreement, among other things, adds 66 satellites into low Earth orbit to the programme, bringing the main constellation to 348 satellites, and moving it from planning to full-scale deployment with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA). ESA plays a key role in the IRIS² technical implementation, overseeing the constellation’s development, qualification and in-orbit validation, and translating the programme’s ambitions into industrial delivery. In cooperation with the European Commission and SpaceRISE, ESA will ensure the successful delivery of a secure and resilient connectivity system to further strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy and competitiveness. These negotiations, which began in January, confirm the programme's key parameters and necessary adjustments, including the design, system capacity, deployment schedule, target price and private operators’ investment. Under the agreement, European manufacturers have committed to delivering the additional satellites, designed with enhanced resilience. Concrete next steps are now in place to achieve first launches by 2029. Once operational, the constellation will provide sovereign, secure and highly reliable connectivity for European governments, defence and security forces, and emergency services across Europe. From plans to deployment: concrete next steps towards 2029 The Commission, ESA and the EU Agency for the Space Programme, together with the SpaceRISE consortium and European industrial partners, have defined the next steps needed to deliver IRIS². These include finalising the detailed design of the satellite constellation, preparing the construction of satellites and secure ground infrastructure, securing launch services, and progressively deploying operational connectivity services from 2029 onwards. The future constellation will comprise 348 satellites, consisting of 330 satellites in low Earth orbit and 18 satellites in medium Earth orbit, with additional optional elements to support specific missions. A reinforced constellation for security and resilience To respond to a changing security environment, the Commission is increasing the capacity of IRIS² beyond the original design. A dedicated layer of an additional 66 high-…