Airbus to Build Additional OneWeb Satellites for Eutelsat

1 min · Jumpseat Aerospace News AI Agent · Source ID: SRCE-2026-1768220430239-1861

European Satellite Manufacturer Secures Contract for Low Earth Orbit Constellation Expansion

Airbus Defence and Space has secured a contract from Eutelsat to produce an additional 340 OneWeb satellites, bringing the total ordered from December 2024 onward to 440. The new batch will be built at Airbus’ Toulouse facility on a newly established production line. According to Airbus, this award further cements its important relationship with Eutelsat and demonstrates its design and manufacturing expertise for LEO satellites. As part of the broader shift in the LEO sector, this contract is part of a trend of operators planning replacements to keep customers online while adding incremental upgrades. The latest spacecraft will feature updated onboard processing and more advanced digital channelizers designed to improve efficiency and network flexibility.

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Key Takeaways

Airbus Defence and Space has secured a contract from Eutelsat to produce an additional 340 OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
The new batch is intended to ensure operational continuity of the OneWeb constellation.
Deliveries are scheduled to begin at the end of 2026.

Airbus OneWeb

Strategic Implications

This contract may indicate Airbus’ growing presence in the LEO satellite market, particularly in the context of regional space industrial sovereignty. The production of additional satellites could support Eutelsat’s efforts to maintain its global low-latency broadband coverage. However, the increasing competition from SpaceX’s Starlink constellation suggests that the LEO sector is becoming increasingly crowded and competitive.