SpaceRISE: “IRIS² moves to next phase”
May 15, 2025
IRIS² is the planned highly-secure satellite mega-constellation being engineered by the European Union and where Europe’s key satellite operators are working together in the SpaceRISE consortium to achieve the flagship scheme.
SpaceRISE has issued a statement saying: “At SpaceRISE we are committed to the timely development and implementation of the multi-orbit system, and are delighted to announce the next important phase: following the planned onboarding of the core team industrial partners, we are now moving at full speed to launching selection of other companies who will support the development and deployment of IRIS²!”
The SpaceRISE consortium currently comprises SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat.
IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) is a planned to be deployed by the European Union by 2027. Initial government services are expected to start in 2030. IRIS² will consist of 272 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), at an altitude of 1,200 km, and 18 satellites in medium Earth orbit (MEO), at 8,000 km.
IRIS2 is backed by €6.5 billion of public funds and over €4 billion of private funds, the multi-orbit satellite network project will enable Europe’s strategic communications autonomy.
The initial 12-year contract with the consortium members was signed on December 16 2024, and the network is expected to start providing services by the beginning of 2030.
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