OHB wins €1bn contract for 15kW IRIS² platforms

(SpaceEnergy) OHB has won a nearly €1 billion contract to develop and produce 18 medium Earth orbit satellite platforms for Europe’s IRIS² constellation, each providing up to 15kW of power.

The German space systems company announced the contract with satellite operator SES on 31 August 2026. SES is responsible for the medium Earth orbit segment of the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²) programme within the SpaceRISE consortium.

OHB said each of the 18 platforms will have a maximum power output of approximately 15kW and a launch mass of about 2.6 metric tons. The disclosure provides a significant new spacecraft power specification for the European secure-connectivity constellation.

The contract is the first major award announced under the IRIS² concession following the programme’s implementation launch on 6 August. The planned network comprises 348 satellites across low Earth orbit and medium Earth orbit.

OHB said the first satellites are planned for launch in 2029, with initial services expected in 2030.