ESA chief urges unified European satellite strategy
Global Banking & Finance Review
European Space Agency director general Josef Aschbacher urged countries to ensure national satellite programmes interoperate and do not become costly silos, speaking at a Paris summit where major IRIS² contracts were announced. Thales Alenia Space agreed to supply government payloads for 330 low-Earth-orbit IRIS² satellites and Airbus will build an initial layer of at least 66 satellites, with the Thales order worth about €500 million of a broader contract exceeding €3 billion. Aschbacher called for €1 billion a year from 2029 to boost European autonomy, with a funding decision due in 2028, while Germany’s separate military plan raised fragmentation concerns.
IRIS² initial launches are planned for 2029.
Context
Leaders met in Paris to discuss European space plans and IRIS² contracts. New deals were signed and technical talks on interoperability took place. A funding decision is due in 2028 and initial launches are planned for 2029.
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