Aerospacelab has secured the largest satellite manufacturing contract under the IRIS² programme and is set to play a leading role in Europe’s most ambitious satellite constellation. The company will design, manufacture and deliver 264 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite platforms out of the 348 satellites that will make up IRIS², Europe’s flagship secure connectivity constellation.
A major achievement for Wallonia-based Aerospacelab. In September, the company announced that it had been selected as a key prime contractor for the LEO segment of the European Commission’s IRIS² programme (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite).
“Aerospacelab’s selection for IRIS² reflects a deliberate industrial choice and marks a defining moment for Europe as a whole. Institutions are now also placing their trust in a new generation of space manufacturers: companies such as Aerospacelab, built from the ground up to deliver satellite infrastructure at scale and at pace,” says Benoît Deper, CEO of Aerospacelab.
In total, Aerospacelab will be responsible for building 264 satellite platforms by 2030. IRIS² represents the largest contract ever awarded in the history of the European Union’s space sector.
The programme will provide European governments and institutions, defence and security services, and citizens with a communications infrastructure that is protected against foreign interference, resilient to disruption, and under the responsibility of European institutions and citizens.
“At the heart of Europe, we designed our Megafactory, which is now nearing completion: an industrial facility whose capacity was specifically conceived for programmes of this scale. Waking up every morning knowing that we are helping to build Europe’s strategic future is a rare privilege,” adds Benoît Deper.
In less than a decade, Aerospacelab has evolved from a pioneering start-up into a recognised industrial player in next-generation satellite manufacturing, demonstrating that European ambition, talent and investment can give rise to world-class space capabilities.
