Aviation Week
• Robert Wall
The European Commission and the Spacerise industrial consortium have agreed to expand the EU’s secure IRIS² connectivity network by 66 low-Earth-orbit satellites. The program has passed its Rendezvous One review and can now advance into its operational phase, alongside related European secure-communications work including SpainSat NG-III.
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The European Commission and the Spacerise industrial consortium have agreed to expand the EU’s secure IRIS² connectivity network by 66 low-Earth-orbit satellites. The program has passed its Rendezvous One review and can now advance into its operational phase, alongside related European secure-communications work including SpainSat NG-III.
High activity
AST SpaceMobile has launched BlueBird 11, 12 and 13 into low Earth orbit, adding three satellites to its planned space-based cellular broadband constellation. The deployment expands the company’s network presence across Europe as it continues scaling direct-to-device connectivity from orbit.
The European Commission’s new €5 billion Scaleup Europe fund has completed its first investment in ICEYE, marking the initiative’s debut financing commitment and directing capital toward the satellite company as Europe seeks to support the growth of high-potential technology businesses.
Rocket Lab launched the Japanese Earth-observing satellite on the mission “The Grain Goddess Provides,” following a five-week delay. The company had first attempted to launch the mission on June 30; the launch was documented with video and photographs.
MatSing says its proprietary manufacturing technology will enable large-format Luneburg Lens antennas to transmit and receive signals simultaneously across multiple directions and frequencies. The development is aimed at improving the performance of multibeam, wideband satellite communications antennas.
An arbitration panel rejected NorthStar Earth & Space’s claims that four Spire-built satellites underperformed and awarded Spire approximately $12.4 million in counterclaims. NorthStar maintains that it is still entitled to four replacement satellites under the parties’ agreement.
BlackSky reported record service revenue in the second quarter of 2026, with total revenue up 50% year over year. International revenue surged 200% on a diversified customer base, while service revenue grew 50% sequentially as customers adopted the company’s Gen-3 satellite solutions.
Gilat Satellite Networks says it has successfully demonstrated AI-based technology that detects and cancels interference on satellite communication links. The company characterizes the milestone as a step toward more resilient operations in contested spectrum environments, where interference can degrade link performance and communications reliability.
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