Aerospacelab is set to build 264 satellites for Europe’s Iris2

A factory is currently being built in Charleroi to help bring Europe’s new satellite constellation into mass production. Belgian start-up Aerospacelab is set to build 264 of a total of 368 satellites for Iris2 — a contract worth at least €1.8 billion, according to Handelsblatt, citing several insiders.

The award brings a new provider into the major contract for Europe’s space industry. Airbus Defence and Space is not taking the largest share, even though the company is already building several hundred satellites for the OneWeb constellation. Airbus will remain involved and is expected to supply 66 satellites for military communications. The Bremen-based company OHB will build 18 satellites for medium Earth orbit.

Aerospacelab plans to complete the factory in Charleroi in the coming months. From 2027, it is expected to produce up to 500 satellites a year. The planned production capacity is intended to make it possible to manufacture the large number of satellites required: Iris2 will not consist of a few large individual spacecraft, but of satellites in different orbits. Low Earth orbit, or LEO, is closer to Earth, while medium Earth orbit, or MEO, complements the system.

For Europe, this is not just about a single contract, but about developing its own communications infrastructure in space. According to Handelsblatt, founder and CEO Benoît Deper sees the award as a signal that new players can help shape Europe’s sovereignty in space alongside established aerospace companies. Building Iris2 is expected to cost around €15 billion.

And what does this change in concrete terms? Aerospacelab now has the opportunity to significantly expand its production, while the contract is going to another European provider alongside established aerospace companies. There is nothing to see in orbit yet, however: The first Iris2 satellites are scheduled to launch in 2029, while the start was originally planned for two years earlier. It remains to be seen whether the factory will reach its announced capacity and whether the satellites will be ready on time.