Europe: Non-Dependence, IRIS² and the Supply Base
Can Europe build its sovereign constellations from European parts?
Chapter summary
not entirely, and not quickly.
Key takeaways
- 1
The EU defines "non-dependence" as free, unrestricted access to any required space technology and has funded critical space technologies with about €20 million a year since 2023, a small sum against the need.
- 2
Its 2026 programme targets space-critical EEE parts, including a radiation-hard FPGA on 7 nm technology and GaN MMIC substrates.
- 3
IRIS², expanded to 348 satellites in August 2026 with services from 2029, is the test: Aerospacelab is to build 264 platforms (€2.4 billion), Airbus the remaining low-orbit platforms with Thales Alenia Space payloads, and OHB 18 medium-orbit platforms, but some critical parts still come only from outside Europe, and only €2.4 billion of public money was firmly committed at the time of the August agreement.
Key figures in this chapter
- 348
- IRIS² satellites (Aug 2026)
- 264
- platforms from Aerospacelab (€2.4B)
- ~€20M
- EU non-dependence funding a year
- 2029
- IRIS² services start
Source: EUSPA; European Spaceflight; European Commission
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