What Happened
European Commission Increases Satellite Numbers And Cost
The European Commission has agreed to proceed with an expanded IRIS² constellation, increasing the number of satellites and the overall cost. The SpaceRISE consortium, led by Eutelsat, Hispasat, and SES, will implement the project, which aims to provide improved defense, security, and safety services. The additional satellites will increase capacity for secure government services by 60% within the EU and 54% outside it. The project’s cost has grown to 15.6 billion euros, with launches scheduled to begin in 2029, as reported by SpaceNews.