Airbus to Build 100 Satellites for Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO Expansion

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The satellites will be built at Airbus’ facility in Toulouse, with production set to begin in 2026

Airbus Defence and Space has been awarded a contract by Eutelsat to expand its OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. The contract will see Airbus build the first 100 satellites of the extension, with deliveries expected to begin at the end of 2026.

Airbus has previously manufactured the current OneWeb fleet, and the company is now set to continue its role in supporting Eutelsat’s efforts to enhance and expand its satellite services. Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus, commented: “We are committed to the successful continuation of the OneWeb constellation and to keep serving the business of Eutelsat as we have done over the past decades.”

The new satellites will offer several key technology upgrades, including integration with 5G networks and improved compatibility with Europe’s planned IRIS2 multi-orbit constellation, which is expected to become operational in 2030. This expansion aligns with Eutelsat’s strategy to grow its LEO capacity in response to increasing demand for global connectivity.

“We are relying on our long-standing partner, Airbus, to begin building the first batches of the Next Generation of our OneWeb LEO constellation, which will ensure we deliver continuity of service of the existing constellation with enhanced service features, as we move towards an architecture in line with the European IRIS2 constellation in 2030. Our in-market experience shows us that the appetite for low Earth orbit capacity is growing rapidly, and we are excited to embark on the next stage of our journey to satisfy that demand,” added Eva Berneke, CEO of Eutelsat in a press release.

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