OHB Secures Nearly €1 Billion IRIS² Satellite Order to Build 18 Medium Earth Orbit Satellites

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On August 31, OHB signed a satellite manufacturing contract with SES valued at nearly €1 billion, under which OHB will develop and manufacture 18 Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite platforms for the EU's IRIS² secure satellite communications program. SES is responsible for the implementation of the IRIS² MEO system within the SpaceRISE consortium, and this contract is the first major industrial contract awarded after the IRIS² concession project entered its implementation phase.

All 18 MEO satellites will be developed and manufactured by OHB for SES, with a maximum power of approximately 15 kilowatts per satellite and a launch mass of approximately 2.6 tons. Under the current implementation schedule, the first IRIS² satellites are planned for launch starting in 2029, with initial communications services expected to be available from 2030. SES has previously confirmed that it will be responsible for the development, procurement, and operation of the 18 satellites in the IRIS² MEO segment, and will secure commercial operation rights for the relevant MEO capacity as well as part of the LEO capacity.

The European Commission and SpaceRISE completed a new phase of negotiations and signed an implementation agreement on August 6, expanding the IRIS² main constellation to 348 satellites, including 330 Low Earth Orbit satellites and the 18 Medium Earth Orbit satellites covered by this contract. The new plan adds 66 LEO satellites compared to previous planning, while also defining the detailed satellite design, manufacturing, launch service procurement, secure ground infrastructure development, and phased deployment arrangements.

SpaceRISE is composed of SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat, with SES responsible for delivering the MEO segment. After completing the IRIS² Rendez-vous 1 phase in August, SES adjusted its expected capital investment for the MEO portion to up to €1.35 billion, while maintaining the configuration of 18 MEO satellites and the timeline for service entry in 2030. SES previously expected to bear approximately 40% to 50% of the MEO system costs, with the remainder covered by public funding arrangements under the program.

The IRIS² concession contract was signed by the European Commission and SpaceRISE in December 2024, with a term of 12 years. Under the current technical plan, the entire system includes a secure ground segment in addition to the 348 LEO and MEO satellites; the satellites will be deployed in phases. The implementation arrangements finalized by the EU in August require subsequent completion of the constellation's detailed design, satellite manufacturing preparation, ground infrastructure construction, and launch service procurement, with the first satellite launch milestone locked in for 2029.