OHB Awarded €1 Billion Contract for EU's IRIS² Programme

OHB has secured a contract valued at nearly €1 billion for developing eighteen satellite platforms for the EU's IRIS² Secure Connectivity Programme. The agreement with SES, a European satellite operator, focuses on medium Earth orbit (MEO) platforms. IRIS², Europe's strategy for reliable satellite communication, involves a constellation of 348 satellites employing a multi-orbit system for effective global coverage. This contract marks the first significant step under the IRIS² concession, following the program's implementation launch earlier in August 2026.

The SpaceRISE consortium, led by SES and inclusive of EUTELSAT and HISPASAT, spearheads the delivery of IRIS²'s MEO segment. OHB, a key technology partner, has contributed significantly through its provision of the satellite platforms. This infrastructure supports Europe's aim for secure satellite communication, regarded as a crucial component of its strategic space programs alongside Galileo and Copernicus.