Liên minh châu Âu sẽ phát triển hệ thống vệ tinh truyền thông IRIS2

The European Space Agency announced on its official website on December 17 that the European Union will develop the IRIS2 communication satellite system to enhance the EU's autonomy and security in communication networks. The IRIS2 system is the EU's third flagship satellite program following the Earth observation system 'Copernicus' and the Galileo satellite navigation system. The European Commission has signed a 12-year franchise contract worth 10.6 billion euros with the system's designer and operator, SpaceRISE Consortium, with the European Commission contributing 6 billion euros, the European Space Agency contributing 550 million euros, and the private sector contributing over 4 billion euros. The IRIS2 system consists of 290 satellites, with 272 in low Earth orbit and 18 in medium Earth orbit, and is equipped with related ground facilities. It will form an autonomous and multitasking satellite constellation and is expected to start providing services in early 2030.