Science & Tech · Space · 1 hr ago
EU awards Belgian startup €2.4 billion contract for 264 satellites
The European Union has given Belgian company Aerospacelab a €2.4 billion contract to build 264 satellites.
The network, called Iris2, is intended to provide secure communications for governments, the military and businesses.
The EU wants to rely less on the United States and on Starlink, the satellite network run by Elon Musk.
Aerospacelab was founded in 2018 and has sent about 15 of its satellites into space so far.
It has around 500 employees, and a new factory for the contract is being completed in Charleroi, Belgium.
The company beat established European supplier Airbus Defence and Space to win the work, but it must expand and hire specialists to deliver it.
The satellites are scheduled to be launched from 2030.
The European Union has awarded Belgian startup Aerospacelab a €2.4 billion contract to build 264 satellites.
The satellites are intended to support a secure communications network for governments, the military and private companies.
The EU aims to become less dependent on the United States and on Elon Musk’s Starlink network for satellite communications.
Aerospacelab, founded in 2018, has sent about 15 of its satellites into space and employs 500 people.
A new factory for the contract is being completed in Charleroi, Belgium.
- Who
- The European Union awarded the contract to Aerospacelab, founded by Belgian engineer Benoît Deper.
- What
- The company is to build 264 satellites under a €2.4 billion contract.
- When
- The contract was awarded recently, according to the article published on October 12, 2026. The satellites are to be launched from 2030.
- Where
- Aerospacelab’s new factory is in Charleroi, Belgium.
- Why
- The EU wants a secure communications network and greater independence from the United States and Starlink.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Under no circumstances
Benoît Deper worked for a time as a senior engineer at Swiss Space Systems in Payerne, Switzerland.
Aerospacelab was founded.
The EU awarded Aerospacelab the contract to build 264 satellites.
The satellites are scheduled to be launched into space.
- Contract value
- €2.4 billion
- Satellites
- 264
- Company founded
- 2018
- Employees
- 500
- Factory location
- Charleroi, Belgium
- First launches planned
- 2030
Sources
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