OHB Wins Billion-Euro Contract for Europe's IRIS² Satellite Network

The Bremen-based space technology group OHB has received one of the first major industrial contracts for Europe’s planned satellite communications system, IRIS². Satellite operator SES has commissioned OHB to develop and build 18 satellite platforms for just under one billion euros. The satellites will become part of the MEO infrastructure of the European system for secure and sovereign communications.

The contract is the first major order since the official launch of the IRIS² implementation phase on August 6, 2026. The European Union plans a constellation of a total of 348 satellites in low and medium Earth orbits. The first satellites are scheduled to launch in 2029, with the first services expected to be available starting in 2030.

18 satellites, each weighing approximately 2.6 metric tons

OHB is developing and manufacturing the platforms for 18 satellites in medium Earth orbit (MEO) on behalf of SES. Within the SpaceRISE consortium, SES is responsible for this portion of the planned IRIS² constellation.

At launch, each satellite is expected to weigh approximately 2.6 metric tons and achieve a maximum power output of about 15 kilowatts. For OHB, the contract thus represents not only a significant contract volume but also a central role in the development of one of Europe’s most important new space programs.

IRIS² will be another significant step toward Europe’s independence.

Marco Fuchs, CEO of OHB

In an increasingly digitized world, a resilient and independent communications infrastructure is essential. OHB can draw on its experience from the European flagship programs Galileo and Copernicus.

Europe’s response to the need for sovereign communications

With IRIS², the European Union aims to establish its own highly secure satellite communications infrastructure. Following Galileo and Copernicus, the program is considered the third major EU space program.

The planned constellation will consist of a total of 348 satellites in low and medium Earth orbits. The multi-orbit approach is designed to combine global coverage with comparatively short signal propagation times. The infrastructure is complemented by a dedicated ground segment secured in accordance with European standards.

The significance of the project thus extends beyond traditional commercial satellite communications. IRIS² is intended to provide secure communication services for public and private users, make critical infrastructure more resilient, and strengthen Europe’s crisis response capabilities. At the same time, the constellation is intended to help improve connectivity in rural and remote regions that have previously been underserved.

SpaceRISE is implementing IRIS² for the EU

The European Commission has commissioned the SpaceRISE consortium to develop and deploy the necessary infrastructure. In addition to SES, EUTELSAT and HISPASAT are members of the consortium. Within the project, SES is responsible for the MEO component and is now relying on OHB for the satellite platforms required for this purpose.

The contract represents an important step toward realizing the next generation of a secure and resilient communications infrastructure for Europe.

Xavier Bertran, Chief Product and Innovation Officer at SES

The public-private project is also supported by the technical expertise of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Union Agency for the Space Program (EUSPA), as well as by other companies in the European space industry.

Nearly one billion euros for OHB

For OHB, the contract is also of considerable economic significance. With a contract value of nearly one billion euros, the company secures a key role in the development of the European communications network. At the same time, the contract strengthens Germany’s position as a space industry hub within this major European project. OHB has been a technology partner of the SpaceRISE consortium since the program’s inception and is part of the core industrial team.

“Europe needs its own, independent communications capabilities,” says Gianaldo Mantovani, a member of the Executive Board of OHB System AG and head of the Telecommunications division.

IRIS² Becomes a Major Industrial Policy Project

The contract also underscores the industrial policy dimension of IRIS². Satellite communications have long since ceased to be merely a matter of broadband coverage. Secure communication networks are increasingly of strategic importance for government institutions, defense, businesses, and critical infrastructure. Europe therefore aims to build its own technological and industrial capabilities and reduce its dependence on non-European communication infrastructures.

For the European space industry, the start of the implementation phase marks the beginning of the economically crucial part of the program: political plans are turning into concrete industrial contracts. However, an ambitious timeline remains until actual operations begin. The first IRIS² satellites are scheduled to launch in 2029, and the first services are expected to be offered starting in 2030.