Wire · technology
Aerospacelab, Thales Alenia Space Secure €5.4 Billion in IRIS2 Contracts
◆ Sectors
◆ Geography
◆ Source
◆ Verified
Fusion42 · 11 September 2026 · Fusion42 review
Aerospacelab, Thales Alenia Space, and Airbus have secured contracts totaling over €5.4 billion to build and integrate 330 satellites for the EU's IRIS2 low Earth orbit secure communications constellation, with additional contracts for medium Earth orbit satellites awarded to OHB. These contracts mark a critical industrial phase in deploying Europe's next-generation secure satellite network operational from 2029.
This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Government & Space, and 3 sources have reported it between 10 Sep 2026 and 14 Sep 2026.
◆ ◆ The Wire takeaway
Europe's secure satellite network is moving from planning to build-out, opening urgent new supply and integration opportunities for space hardware and communications founders. Airbus, Aerospacelab, and Thales now need scalable partners and faster R&D to meet 2029 launch timelines.
◆ Coverage
3 sources · first reported 10 Sep 2026 · latest 14 Sep 2026
◆ Related on Wire
◆ Topics