SES and OHB Seal $1.16 Billion Deal for 18 Iris2 MEO Satellites

SES has signed a contract worth nearly 1 billion euros, approximately $1.16 billion, with German manufacturer OHB SE to build 18 medium-Earth-orbit satellites for Europe's Iris2 secure communications constellation. The deal, announced August 31, marks the first major industrial order placed since the Iris2 framework was established, moving the program from paper to metal.

The contract falls within the broader Iris2 multi-orbit secure communications program, valued at 15.6 billion euros. It follows the establishment of the Iris concession under the European Commission and the concession operator SpaceRise, which comprises SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat. SES is leading delivery of the MEO segment within the program.

OHB will build 18 MEO satellite platforms, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2029 and operations set for 2030. SES serves as prime contractor for the MEO segment. OHB described the award as the first major industrial order placed since Iris2's framework was set. Iris2 is intended as Europe's secure communications constellation for government and defense use.

The contract is characterized as advancing faster than Germany's separate Bundeswehr SatcomBw-4 military satellite procurement, with Iris2 MEO capacity moving toward delivery ahead of that national program.

The deal signals that Iris2 is progressing from its established framework into active manufacturing, with a European institutional constellation now backed by a concrete industrial commitment. It places SES and OHB at the center of the MEO segment as the first large order under the program takes shape.

Attention turns to deliveries beginning in 2029 and operations in 2030, and to whether Germany's SatcomBw-4 program adjusts its own requirements given that Iris2 MEO capacity is set to come online first.