Europe increases size and cost of IRIS2 constellation
Posted: Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 10:41 AM ET (1441 GMT)
The European Commission has finalized an agreement with an industrial consortium for the IRIS2 constellation, increasing its size and cost. The commission announced Friday it completed negotiations with the SpaceRISE consortium on the constellation, allowing development of the system to proceed. The agreement adds 66 satellites to the system's high-LEO shell, bringing it to 330 satellites, along with 18 medium Earth orbit satellites. Launches of IRIS2 satellites are scheduled to begin in 2029. The commission did not disclose the revised cost of the system but Hispsat, one of the members of SpaceRISE, said the constellation now costs 15.6 billion euros ($18 billion), a nearly 50% increase from earlier estimates. The European Commission and ESA, along with their member states, will provide 11.6 billion euros with SpaceRISE contributing the remainder.
The European Commission has finalized an agreement with an industrial consortium for the IRIS2 constellation, increasing its size and cost. The commission announced Friday it completed negotiations with the SpaceRISE consortium on the constellation, allowing development of the system to proceed. The agreement adds 66 satellites to the system's high-LEO shell, bringing it to 330 satellites, along with 18 medium Earth orbit satellites. Launches of IRIS2 satellites are scheduled to begin in 2029. The commission did not disclose the revised cost of the system but Hispsat, one of the members of SpaceRISE, said the constellation now costs 15.6 billion euros ($18 billion), a nearly 50% increase from earlier estimates. The European Commission and ESA, along with their member states, will provide 11.6 billion euros with SpaceRISE contributing the remainder.
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