Space Intel Report
• Peter B. de Selding
Eutelsat says successive bulk purchases of OneWeb Gen 1 refresh and Gen 1.5 satellites will improve its low-Earth-orbit broadband network, before a planned transition of OneWeb customers to the Iris2 constellation early next decade, combining commercial and government capacity.
LEO
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Eutelsat says successive bulk purchases of OneWeb Gen 1 refresh and Gen 1.5 satellites will improve its low-Earth-orbit broadband network, before a planned transition of OneWeb customers to the Iris2 constellation early next decade, combining commercial and government capacity.
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The economics of low Earth orbit constellations may hinge less on launch prices than on custom silicon and shared terminal architectures. The design choices could shape cost, scalability and competitiveness across networks ranging from Starlink to Europe’s planned IRIS² constellation.
Eutelsat has signed agreements to replenish and expand its OneWeb low-Earth-orbit network while supporting the LEO segment of Europe’s forthcoming sovereign IRIS² multi-orbit constellation. The commitments connect commercial broadband service continuity with Europe’s emerging secure-connectivity infrastructure.
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Korean Air and Asiana Airlines plan to begin offering free Starlink inflight connectivity on selected services from Sept. 15, 2026. Korean Air’s initial rollout covers three Airbus A350-900s and one Boeing 777-300ER, with broader plans to equip the Hanjin Group airlines’ fleets.
A €3 billion raise by Mistral, Isar Aerospace’s first orbital success, Eutelsat’s expanded LEO data-downlink partnership with Skynopy and Aerospacelab’s €2.4 billion IRIS² satellite contract underscore Europe’s push to control critical AI, launch, connectivity and secure-communications infrastructure.
Eutelsat will expand and replenish its OneWeb low Earth orbit constellation through 2034 under a deal with Airbus worth about €1 billion. Separately, the UK acknowledged nearly $40 million in spending on SpaceX’s Starshield, becoming the first country outside the US to publicly confirm its use for military and intelligence missions.
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The Exploration Company won an ESA contract worth up to €760 million for a 2028 Nyx demonstration mission to the ISS, while Eutelsat advanced GEO life extension and IRIS² manufacturing plans. NewOrbit also secured a Q3 2028 launch slot for commercial payloads in very low Earth orbit.
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MBDA and Safran won approval to supply France’s new long-range land-strike capability, while the U.S. expanded military connectivity with 21 PWSA Tranche-1 satellites. Separate awards include up to $4.84 billion for Northrop Grumman’s CIRCM system, $4.7 billion to L3Harris for PAC-3 MSE propulsion and $343.2 million for T56 sustainment.
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