Eutelsat is talking to India’s Space Research Organisation (ISRO) about future satellite launches as it seeks to diversify beyond SpaceX and Europe’s Ariane rockets.

Jean-François Fallacher, CEO of France-based Eutelsat, told Reuters that negotiations with ISRO were ongoing, though no deal has yet been reached.

Reuters explained that France and India have deepened ties in defence, space, and maritime security, with New Delhi recently signing contracts for French fighter jets. Last year, French President Emmanuel Macron urged the two countries to team up on space, ⁠warning that reliance on non-European providers was “madness”.

Eutelsat used to be a regular user of Russian rockets for launches but the Ukraine war has put an end to that option and has since had to depend on Elon Musk’s SpaceX and occasionally Arianespace’s rockets.

In January Eutelsat signed for the French MaiaSpace rocket company (in which Arianespace holds a share) for a multi-launch deal set to start in 2027 to carry its OneWeb satellites into orbit.

OneWeb is seen as a strategic asset by Europe’s governments. Eutelsat has shareholders including the French and UK governments, and also has India’s Bharti Group as a shareholder.

MaiaSpace is developing a partially reusable mini-launcher that would make it the first of its kind in Europe.

Reusable rockets help reduce launch costs and allow for more frequent launches. Eutelsat, which acquired OneWeb in 2023, plans to launch about 440 Airbus-built LEO satellites in the coming years to replenish and expand its constellation.

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Tags: eutelsat, india, ISRO