EU approves €6 billion IRIS² project: European Starlink rival set for 2030 launch

The European Commission has officially approved the architecture of the IRIS² satellite system (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite). The project, designed as Europe's answer to Starlink, is moving from the bureaucratic stage to building hardware, ground stations, and preparing launch vehicles.

The driving force behind IRIS² is Brussels' desire to reduce dependence on American private space companies for security matters. The SpaceRISE consortium, which includes Airbus, Thales Alenia Space, and SES, will build the independent network. The total budget is estimated at around €6 billion (approximately $6.5 billion). Funding is split between the EU, the European Space Agency (ESA), and private investors.

The system will be multi-orbit, combining satellites in low (LEO), medium (MEO), and geostationary (GEO) orbits. Unlike commercial Starlink, IRIS² is designed from the start with government and military users in mind. This involves advanced encryption, including quantum technologies, and resilience against electronic warfare. Europeans want communications that will not disappear if service terms or political circumstances change.

First test launches are scheduled for 2029. The full constellation is expected to be deployed by 2030–2031. ESA notes the system will not only guarantee secure governmental communications but also eliminate broadband internet coverage gaps across the union and Africa.