Space Rivals Join to Bid for $6.6 Billion EU Satellite Plan
- Airbus, Eutelsat and SES among companies bidding for IRIS²
- IRIS² seen as critical for EU as satellite launches surge
Source: AFP/Getty Images
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Europe’s top satellite and aerospace companies have teamed up to bid for the European Union’s €6 billion ($6.6 billion) satellite project known as IRIS², aimed at beaming internet across the continent and giving the bloc its own fleet to keep up with constellations deployed by governments and businesses around the world.
The consortium will be run by aerospace manufacturers Airbus SE and Thales Alenia Space SAS along with satellite operators Eutelsat Communications SA, SES SA, and Hispasat SA, the companies said in an emailed statement Tuesday.