A memorandum of understanding signed between Thales Alenia Space and Eutelsat on September 10, 2026 for the supply of government payloads for 330 IRIS² telecommunications satellites in low Earth orbit (66 in Ka band exclusively and 264 in Ku/Ka bands).
A tranche worth approximately €500 million, within a broader IRIS² contract awarded to Thales Alenia Space expected to exceed €3 billion.
IRIS² as the flagship of Europe’s sovereign space capabilities, with at least 348 satellites (330 in low Earth orbit at 1,200 km, 18 in medium Earth orbit at 8,000 km) providing secure communications for government agencies and commercial B2B services, interconnected via optical inter-satellite links.
A Cannes-based anchor for a strategic European programme, with Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%) headquartered in Cannes, as a key industrial partner of the programme.
A structuring contract for European strategic autonomy
Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), announced on September 10, 2026 from Cannes the signing of a memorandum of understanding with its client Eutelsat for the supply of government payloads for 330 IRIS² telecommunications satellites in low Earth orbit.
66 of these satellites will carry Ka-band-only payloads, while the remaining 264 will operate in Ku/Ka bands. The order represents a tranche worth approximately €500 million within a broader IRIS² contract awarded to Thales Alenia Space, expected to exceed €3 billion in total.
IRIS², the new flagship of Europe’s sovereign space capabilities
The future IRIS² secure telecommunications constellation (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) will serve as the new flagship of Europe’s independent and sovereign capabilities in space. The system will comprise at least 348 satellites: 330 in low Earth orbit at an altitude of 1,200 km (including 66 in Ka band exclusively and 264 in Ku/Ka bands), as well as 18 in medium Earth orbit at 8,000 km. The satellites will communicate with each other via optical inter-satellite links and will use a multi-orbit approach.
IRIS² will provide secure communications services to government agencies responsible for civil protection, emergency management, defence and security, as well as commercial services for the B2B (Business to Business) domain. Beyond connectivity, the constellation will serve as the backbone for other European Earth observation and satellite navigation infrastructures, while also acting as a data relay.
A dual system with native 5G capability
This dual system will integrate cutting-edge technologies, providing full data control and an unprecedented level of security to address current cybersecurity challenges. Equipped with native 5G capability, IRIS² will use payloads fitted with active antennas to ensure precise beam pointing and maximum signal strength over specific areas of interest.
These payloads will drive the emergence of the first secure spatial 5G network, combining in-orbit traffic routing, active interference management and end-to-end secure communications. The development of a dedicated chipset for software-defined antennas will further enhance the system’s capacity, flexibility and operational agility.
A two-layer industrial architecture
Thales Alenia Space will be a key industrial partner of the programme. The first 66 Ka-band telecommunications satellites in low Earth orbit, known as IRIS² Layer One, are scheduled for launch from 2029. For this satellite layer, Thales Alenia Space will develop the payloads, while Airbus Defence and Space will supply the platforms.
For IRIS² Layer Two, comprising 264 Ku/Ka-band telecommunications satellites in low Earth orbit, Thales Alenia Space will be responsible for the government payloads, while Aerospacelab will develop the platforms. The launch of this second layer is planned from 2030.
“I want to express my gratitude to the European Commission, the SpaceRISE consortium of telecom operators, and to Eutelsat for placing their confidence in Thales Alenia Space, that will provide all governmental communications payloads for the 330 IRIS2 satellites in Low Earth Orbit. IRIS2 will represent the pinnacle of telecommunications constellations. Our company will leverage its unique legacy in constellations, digital payloads, 5G communications and system security to address this strategic program, which is essential for Europe to strengthen its sovereignty and space autonomy”. said Hervé Derrey, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space.
A Cannes-based anchor for a structuring programme
This contract consolidates the strategic role of Thales Alenia Space, headquartered in Cannes, in the development of European sovereign capabilities in space telecommunications. The Cannes site is a major industrial and technological hub for the French and European space programme, and one of the world’s leading centres for satellite design and assembly. This new contract is part of a broader French Riviera NewSpace ecosystem, structured by the industrial players established in Cannes and Sophia Antipolis, the 3IA Côte d’Azur deep tech ecosystem, and a momentum driven by the international events hosted on the territory (WAICF, future quantum summits).
Source: Thales Alenia Space Press Release
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