Major deep-tech company Aerospacelab announced on Thursday that it has been awarded a €2.4 billion (approximately $2.8 billion) contract to build and deliver 264 LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite platforms for the European Commission’s IRIS² Program (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite).
Aerospacelab’s press release:
Aerospacelab is proud to announce it has been selected as a key Prime Contractor for the LEO segment of the European Commission’s IRIS² Programme (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite). Following a rigorous competitive dialogue conducted with Eutelsat, as LEO-segment’s lead in the SpaceRISE consortium1, Aerospacelab has been entrusted to build the 264 satellite platforms and deliver the fully integrated satellites that will form the backbone of Europe’s sovereign, secure, and resilient connectivity infrastructure by 2030.
IRIS² is the largest contract ever awarded in EU space history. IRIS² joins a growing constellation of European initiatives, alongside Galileo, Copernicus, and Ariane, that affirm the European Union’s resolve to be a full-spectrum space power. The programme will provide European governments, institutions, defense and security services, and citizens with a communication infrastructure that is immune to foreign interference, resilient against disruption, and accountable to European institutions and citizens.
“The selection of Aerospacelab for IRIS2 reflects a deliberate industrial choice, a defining moment for Europe as a whole. Institutions are now also placing their trust in a new generation of space manufacturers: companies like Aerospacelab, built from the ground up to deliver satellite infrastructure at scale and speed,” says Benoît Deper, CEO of Aerospacelab. “At the heart of Europe, we have designed and are now completing our Megafactory: an industrial tool whose scale was built precisely for programmes of this magnitude. Waking up knowing that we are building Europe’s strategic future is a rare privilege.”
In less than a decade, Aerospacelab has grown from a pioneering startup into a recognized industrial force in next-generation satellite manufacturing, proof that European ambition, talent, and investment can produce world-class space capabilities.
“This is a landmark award. This major multi-billion contract powerfully endorses Aerospacelab’s expertise and ability to deliver mission-critical space infrastructure at scale and on time. Delivering the IRIS2 LEO segment proves Benoit and the team meet the highest standards of resilience and performance required for today’s foundational communication networks,” remarks Mathieu Costes, Operating Partner at AV and Chairman of the Aerospacelab’s Board. “As Aerospacelab accelerates its growth journey, this achievement marks a pivotal moment. It propels the company into a new NEO-prime leadership position, uniquely equipped to answer the escalating global demand for secure, utility-scale satellite infrastructure.”