EU Greenlights $18 Billion IRIS² Satellite Constellation to Bolster Sovereign Connectivity

The European Union accelerates its answer to Starlink, securing key industrial partnerships to enhance secure governmental and defense communications.

The European Union has officially finalized the plans for its ambitious IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) constellation, an $18 billion project designed to provide the bloc with independent, secure, and sovereign satellite communications. By accelerating the implementation of the constellation, the EU aims to create a strategic rival to existing commercial systems like SpaceX’s Starlink. The move is framed as a critical step in bolstering European defense capabilities and ensuring reliable communication channels for government agencies, bord…