Recent disruptions to Starlink services in Ukraine have underscored a pressing question for European defence planners: who controls the satellites that armies depend on? Reports of speed limits imposed on Ukrainian drone operations, allegedly at the behest of the US government, have reignited concerns about reliance on American infrastructure. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski publicly admonished Elon Musk, warning that European customers are watching closely.
In response, the European Union has accelerated its own satellite initiative, IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite). This ambitious project, in development for about six years, aims to provide secure, sovereign communications for governments, businesses, and citizens across Europe and Africa, using quantum encryption via the EuroQCI infrastructure.
A 348-satellite constellation
The European Commission and the SpaceRISE consortium finalised the implementation agreement in early August. The network will comprise 348 satellites: 330 in low Earth orbit and 18 in medium Earth orbit, with an additional 66 satellites dedicated to defence, security, and emergency services. According to the Commission, this will boost secured capacity for public-sector users by 60% within the EU and 54% worldwide. Initial services are slated to begin in 2029–2030, with the first launches scheduled for 2029.
Germany's role is central, with Bremen-based OHB (Orbitale Hochtechnologie Bremen) signing a contract worth nearly €1 billion with satellite operator SES to build the 18 medium-Earth-orbit satellites. Each satellite weighs about 2.6 tonnes at launch. OHB CEO Marco Fuchs hailed the programme as a crucial step towards European strategic autonomy.
However, Germany's participation has not been without friction. In December 2023, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs sent a sharply worded letter to involved companies, demanding clarity on German industry's share of value creation, as reported by the Frankfurter Rundschau.
Bundeswehr's own constellation
Independently of IRIS², the Bundeswehr is pursuing a national satellite network, SATCOMBw 4, financed by the federal government. Major General Armin Fleischmann, the Bundeswehr's space commissioner, described plans for a constellation similar to Starlink but smaller, colloquially dubbed “flying Fritzboxes.” The network, initially covering NATO's eastern flank, will be under national control, with components sourced from Western partners, including the US.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced in September 2025 that €35 billion would be invested in military space projects by 2030. The SATCOMBw 4 project, in its final stage, could comprise a three-digit number of low-Earth-orbit satellites, costing between €8 and €10 billion. An initial constellation of up to 40 satellites is expected to be operational by 2029, with full operations from 2030.
The joint venture OHB Rheinmetall Space Networks, based in Bremen, is bidding for the contract, with OHB responsible for satellites and Rheinmetall for ground stations and end devices. A decision is expected around the turn of the year, possibly early 2027. If awarded, OHB would be involved in both major European satellite projects.
These developments come as Europe grapples with broader questions of technological sovereignty, a theme echoed in other sectors, such as the recent debate over sugar taxes and calls for an emergency brake on EU laws. The push for independent satellite capabilities is a strategic imperative, as highlighted by the Starlink speed limits that disrupted Ukrainian operations.
While IRIS² is a civilian-led initiative, its defence applications are clear. The EU's ambition is to reduce dependence on external providers, ensuring that European forces can rely on secure, sovereign communications. As the project moves from contract to launch, the continent's ability to assert its autonomy in space will be tested.
