August 7, 2026
ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity – IRIS²
ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity – IRIS² quick links
ESA is cooperating with the European Commission, European industry and EUSPA, to develop one of the EU’s flagship space programmes: the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²).
It will be a strategic asset for the EU, in support of its autonomy, resilience and competitiveness. After Copernicus for Earth observation and Galileo for navigation, IRIS² is the next flagship programme of the European Union.
Led by the European Commission, IRIS² is a bold endeavour for Europe’s future in space communications, connectivity, resilience and leadership. Through the ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity, the European Space Agency (ESA) plays a pivotal role by serving as the technical backbone, industrial orchestrator and oversight authority that bridges the EU’s policy ambition with industrial delivery.
Specifically, ESA provides the technical expertise and support that assists with the design, development and procurement aspects of the programme. ESA ensures that IRIS²’s architecture meets technical and performance requirements.
What is IRIS²?
IRIS² will be a multi-orbital constellation, with 348 satellites spanning across low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO). There will be 330 satellites in LEO and 18 in MEO.
By utilising both orbits, the constellation will benefit from the low latency of LEO and the wider coverage of MEO, providing a superior and sustainable system that is competitive and reduces the need to deploy two constellations to offer the same capabilities.
An additional layer in low-LEO is also being developed, while a dedicated high-LEO will strengthen capabilities for defence, security, and emergency services. Meanwhile, an option for 24 polar high-LEO satellites and 20 low-LEO satellites for dedicated missions remain part of the baseline for IRIS².
The system will be fully compatible with 5G technologies for seamless integration in existing and future connectivity systems, allowing for the optimisation of the constellation size and improving interoperability with existing systems and technologies.
IRIS² will not only provide connectivity to governments, but also to business, transport sectors, as well as remote and underserved areas. The programme is motivated by multiple strategic objectives: enhancing connectivity in regions with limited terrestrial networks, strengthening Europe’s resilience and digital sovereignty amidst increasing cybersecurity threats, and bolstering Europe’s competitiveness in the global satellite communications sector.
Europe’s dependency on non-European space, satellite and communications systems has increasingly been viewed as a vulnerability, especially for secure, governmental communications, crisis management and resilience of critical infrastructure. IRIS² is conceived as a response to these challenges.
The launch of the first IRIS² satellites is envisaged for 2029, with the progressive deployment of initial services expected in 2030. Initial governmental services will be provided through the EU’s GOVSATCOM, based on the pooling and sharing of Member States’ existing satellite capacities.
The final constellation, with an evolved GOVSATCOM integrated, is expected to be completed in 2030 and after the deployment of 18 MEO and 264 High-LEO satellites. Full capability is scheduled by 2032.
Elements of IRIS2
Secure “Hard Gov” satellite connectivity
Element 1
Covering ESA’s contribution to the definition, development and validation of the governmental infrastructure of IRIS2 , Element 1 focuses on delivering secure “Hard Gov” satellite connectivity services that are restricted to government-authorised users, such as EU institutions, Member State governments, security and defence actors, crisis management authorities and other critical public-sector users. With this element, ESA is contributing approximately €550 million to the programme in a Public-Private Partnership Project contract with the SpaceRISE consortium.
Reliable, scalable “Light Gov” connectivity
Element 2
Element 2 focuses on the validation and demonstration of services delivered through the commercial part of the IRIS² system. It supports activities that test, demonstrate, and validate commercial connectivity services, including those that can also serve governmental users through “Light Gov” services. These services rely on the commercial infrastructure, with the aim to ensure that the system can deliver reliable, scalable satellite connectivity for a wide range of users. Through demonstrations and validation activities, the Element helps to confirm that the services are operationally viable and ready for deployment across Europe.
Strengthening and evolving IRIS²
Element 3
Focuses on innovation and the development of next-generation technologies that will strengthen the long-term capabilities of IRIS² and Europe’s secure connectivity ecosystem. Through this element, ESA supports the research, technology development, and early demonstrations to enhance performance, security, resilience, and efficiency of future satellite communications. Element 3 also includes a key expansion into Low-LEO architectures, with the aim to provide lower latency, improved link performance, and new service capabilities such as direct-to-device connectivity. It also supports the evolution towards a “system-of-systems” architecture, exploring how multiple orbital layers, networks, and technologies can be integrated to create a more resilient, scalable, and future-proof European secure connectivity capability.
Featured opportunities
- Invitations to Tender on the Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity – IRIS²
- Funding Opportunity: Consolidation Phase for IRIS² Low LEO Pre-Operational and De-Risk Activities
- Invitation to Tender: Preliminary Design of an Automated Calibration Process for Phased Array Antennas
- Invitation to Tender: Preliminary Design of a Test Facility for IRIS² Governmental User Terminals Pre-conformance
ESA’s role in IRIS²
ESA brings decades of expertise in managing European space programmes, while coordinating industrial delivery across its Member States. ESA is involved in IRIS² through several key instruments and responsibilities:
RELATED NEWS
July 10, 2026
User Terminal Workshop hosted by ESA and the European Commission convenes to shape the future of satellite connectivity solutions
May 20, 2026
ESA and Spain sign agreement to advance Europe’s secure connectivity future
December 10, 2025