Germany’s growing space ambitions reshape Europe’s strategic security priorities.
BRUSSELS
The European Union is accelerating development of IRIS², a 348-satellite communications network designed to strengthen digital sovereignty and reduce dependence on American technology, as restrictions affecting Ukraine’s access to SpaceX satellite services expose Europe’s vulnerability in military communications.
The project has acquired renewed geopolitical significance following reports that Ukrainian military systems experienced connectivity restrictions affecting high-speed operations. Although responsibility for those limitations remains disputed, the incident has intensified questions about who ultimately controls the infrastructure on which modern armed forces depend.
IRIS², short for Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite, will provide secure communications for governments, defense institutions, emergency services and commercial users. Its architecture combines 330 low-Earth-orbit satellites with 18 medium-Earth-orbit spacecraft.
The European Commission and the SpaceRISE consortium signed an implementation agreement in August 2026, advancing the program toward deployment. SpaceRISE brings together satellite operators SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat, supported by a wider European industrial network.
Germany occupies an increasingly important position in the initiative. Bremen-based aerospace manufacturer OHB secured a contract worth nearly €1 billion to build 18 medium-Earth-orbit satellites for SES, strengthening Germany’s participation in a strategically important European technology program.
Belgian manufacturer Aerospacelab is responsible for producing 264 low-orbit satellites under a contract valued at approximately €2.4 billion, while Airbus will manufacture at least 66 spacecraft intended to strengthen defense and governmental communications.
Germany is simultaneously pursuing a separate military satellite constellation known as SATCOMBw 4. The Bundeswehr envisions a network of more than 100 low-orbit satellites, with estimated costs ranging between €8 billion and €10 billion.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has announced plans to invest approximately €35 billion in military space capabilities by 2030. The national satellite initiative is intended to strengthen communications security, particularly along NATO’s eastern flank.
The parallel programs reflect different strategic objectives. IRIS² will operate as a European infrastructure serving multiple governments and commercial customers, while Germany’s military network would remain under national control.
Their development also highlights the growing economic importance of Europe’s aerospace industry. Manufacturers, telecommunications operators and defense contractors are positioning themselves within a market increasingly shaped by security requirements and technological competition.
Yet Europe faces substantial implementation challenges. The first IRIS² launches are expected in 2029, with services introduced progressively afterward. Manufacturing capacity, financing and access to reliable launch vehicles remain essential to meeting that timetable.
Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket provides an important launch capability, although limited launch availability could complicate deployment schedules.
Existing European systems, including Eutelsat’s OneWeb network, offer partial alternatives to American satellite communications. However, technical limitations and incompatible equipment mean they cannot immediately replace Starlink’s extensive operational infrastructure.
The strategic importance extends beyond Ukraine. Satellite connectivity increasingly supports military coordination, financial transactions, maritime operations, emergency management and critical infrastructure.
For European governments, the central challenge is therefore not simply constructing satellites but establishing reliable control over communications systems that underpin national security and economic resilience.
IRIS² represents an attempt to convert technological dependence into strategic capability. Whether that ambition succeeds will depend on operational performance, industrial coordination and Europe’s ability to maintain access to space without relying excessively on external providers.
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