MDA Space has signed an authorisation-to-proceed agreement worth more than $100 million with Thales Alenia Space to begin work on digital antenna subsystems for the first 66 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in Europe's IRIS² secure connectivity constellation. The agreement covers the programme's initial Layer 1 satellites, which are scheduled for launch in 2029.
Under the agreement, MDA Space will supply AURORA broadband digital phased-array antennas and digital antenna controllers for the satellites. The direct radiating arrays use digital beamforming technology to direct and manage communications capacity, allowing satellite coverage and resources to be adapted to changing network requirements.
The antenna subsystems will form part of the payload infrastructure supporting IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite), the European Union's programme to establish secure, resilient and independently controlled satellite communications capabilities. The constellation is intended to support government and commercial connectivity requirements while reducing Europe's dependence on external satellite infrastructure.
MDA Space will design, manufacture and test the AURORA subsystems at its facility in Montréal, Canada, using production infrastructure developed for high-volume satellite manufacturing. The agreement expands the company's involvement in government-backed satellite communications programmes and provides an additional application for its software-defined digital antenna technology.
The authorisation-to-proceed arrangement allows MDA Space to begin work ahead of finalising the definitive contract covering its full scope of supply. The company expects to include the agreement in its fourth-quarter 2026 order backlog, although the final contract remains subject to completion.