The German space company OHB has signed a large-scale contract worth approx 1 billion euros for the development and production of satellite platforms for the medium-orbital segment (MEO) of the new European secure communication system IRIS².
Key details of the contract:
Customer and partnership: The contract was signed with the Luxembourg satellite operator SES, which, within the framework of the large European SpaceRISE consortium, is responsible for the deployment of vehicles in medium Earth orbit.
Volume of production: Under this order, OHB will manufacture 18 satellite platforms. Each device will have a starting mass of approx 2,6 tons and the output power is approx 15 kilowatt. The payload for them will be created and tested by SES itself.
Value for the project: This is the first major industrial contract, concluded after the official transition of the IRIS² program to the phase of practical implementation in early August 2026 year. It marks the transition from paper planning to the creation of real iron.
Deployment timelines: The launch of the first medium orbit satellites is planned for 2029 year, and the provision of the first public and commercial services should begin in 2030 year.
It is a sovereign multi-orbit satellite communication system of the European Union, which will total 348 devices (330 in low LEO orbit and 18 on average MEO). The project is called "the European answer to Starlink", and its main purpose is to provide governments, військових та критичну інфраструктуру країн ЄС повністю незалежним, шифрованим та стійким інтернетом.
Source: https://spacenews.com