A constellation of 290 European satellites, collectively called Iris2, will ensure secure and fast communication for European governments and businesses.
The long-awaited initiative has now been officially announced. Iris2 stands for "Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite". The constellation will consist of low-Earth orbit satellites as well as others in medium-Earth orbit.
With interconnected satellites in different orbits, the constellation will be able to communicate quickly and securely. The Iris2 satellites can stay connected independently of other satellites.
"Launched by European rockets, the Iris2 constellation will promote Europe's autonomy, resilience and competitiveness," said the European Space Agency (ESA). "Iris2 builds on the ESA's previous deliveries of constellations for the European Union, including Copernicus, the world's largest Earth observation programme, and Galileo, the world's most accurate civilian satellite navigation system."
Launch in 2029
As well as providing secure government communications, Iris2 can be used by commercial companies seeking secure communications across Europe.
Contracts were signed in Brussels on Monday between the ESA and the EU, and between the ESA and an industrial consortium called SpaceRISE, led by European satellite operators SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat.
The budget for Iris2 is estimated at €11 billion, of which €7 billion is public funding. The ESA has a central role in Iris2, with a 12-year contract to oversee the consortium's work. The first Iris2 satellite is scheduled to launch in 2029.
