MDA Space has received authorization to begin supplying digital antenna equipment for 66 satellites in Europe’s IRIS² secure communications constellation. The Canadian company announced the agreement with Thales Alenia Space on October 30, 2026, valuing the initial authorization at more than C$100 million.
The work covers MDA AURORA broadband digital phased-array antennas and digital antenna controllers for the constellation’s early-delivery Layer 1 satellites. In its company announcement, MDA identifies the agreement as an authorization to proceed, with a definitive contract for its complete scope subject to finalization.
The antennas use digital beamforming, which controls how antenna signals combine to produce communications beams. MDA’s contribution comprises communications subsystems for the satellites, with design, manufacturing, and testing conducted at its Montréal facility. The company plans to include the authorization in its fourth-quarter 2026 backlog.
Hardware for the First Deployment Layer
The 66 spacecraft form part of an expanded IRIS² architecture agreed in August 2026. The European Union Agency for the Space Programme describes a planned constellation of 348 satellites: 330 in low Earth orbit and 18 in medium Earth orbit. The additional 66 satellites strengthen capacity for government, defense, security, and emergency communications.
IRIS² stands for Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite. Its infrastructure is being developed through a public-private partnership involving the European Commission and the SpaceRISE consortium, whose members are SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat. EUSPA’s responsibilities focus on governmental service requirements, security accreditation, and service management.
The first layer has separate industrial responsibilities for platforms and communications equipment. According to European Spaceflight’s reporting, Airbus was selected in September to manufacture the platforms and integrate the spacecraft, and Thales Alenia Space received the communications-payload work. MDA’s antenna authorization supplies equipment within that payload chain.
Launches of the early-delivery satellites are planned for 2029. The wider implementation program includes satellite construction, secure ground infrastructure, launch procurement, and the progressive introduction of connectivity services.
