Eutelsat Communications Engages Airbus Unit, Thales Alenia Space for EU's Satellite Constellation Project

08:20 AM EDT, 09/10/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Eutelsat Communications (ETL.PA) awarded contracts for the development of the first layer of satellites under Europe's sovereign IRIS constellation project to Airbus (AIR.PA) unit Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space. Under the terms, Airbus and Thales Alenia Space will build the first layer of the low Earth orbit segment of the project, comprising at least 66 satellites, to be delivered in 2029, according to a Thursday release. Airbus will produce the platforms and integrate the satellites with the payload from Thales Alenia Space, which is a joint venture between Thales (HO.PA) and Leonardo (LDO.MI).