Eutelsat plans to procure a further 229 OneWeb LEO satellites from Airbus Defence and Space, extending the constellation's replenishment programme and maintaining service continuity ahead of the commercial deployment of Europe's IRIS² system.
The companies have signed an Authorisation to Proceed covering initial industrial work on the satellites. The new batch will supplement 440 OneWeb satellites already ordered from Airbus, taking Eutelsat's total procurement of new-generation and replacement OneWeb spacecraft from the manufacturer to 669 satellites. Deliveries from the existing 440-satellite order are expected to begin next quarter.
The additional spacecraft will support progressive replenishment and expansion of OneWeb through 2034, providing additional capacity while replacing ageing satellites. They will incorporate digital channelisers for greater onboard processing and network flexibility, as well as the ability to carry hosted payloads. Eutelsat estimates the additional procurement at around €1 billion, but says it will not change its capital expenditure plan through FY2029.
The order provides a bridge between today's operational OneWeb network and IRIS², where Eutelsat is leading the LEO segment. The commercial Ku-band component of IRIS² is expected to become operational by mid-2032, with Eutelsat expecting it to provide more than twice OneWeb's current capacity and additional next-generation capabilities.
The announcement therefore provides further clarity on Eutelsat's long-term LEO strategy that OneWeb will not simply be replaced by IRIS² when the European constellation arrives. Instead, Eutelsat intends to continue investing in OneWeb into the 2030s while progressively introducing IRIS², creating overlapping capacity and reducing the risk of a service gap during the transition.