Italy joins Germany in IRIS2 alternate thoughts
April 17, 2025
Germany has already made it known that it believes the EU-backed IRIS2 mega-constellation of super-secure satellites is too expensive. Now it seems that Italy is also having thoughts about its own satellite fleet.
A report in German newspaper Handelsblatt suggests that the German army (Bundeswehr) is backing an alternate orbiting satellite system, and may not be at all keen on IRIS2.
A presentation made by Major-General Jürgen Setzer (Vice Chief of German CIDS/ Cyber and Information Domain Service, at the GOVSATCOM 2025 event in Luxembourg) told delegates that on the battlefield of the future “space-based activities are setting the conditions for victory”. He proposed that the Bundeswehr wanted its own Mid-Earth orbiting fleet of 12-24 satellites to be in place by 2032 as well as up to three geostationary craft (COMSATBw 1B and 23B and a potential COMSATBw 3) and “Bundeswehr owned” and a low Earth orbiting fleet.
His presentation acknowledged the possible role of the German Federal Government “if applicable” in IRIS2 but that the German army’s plan was for it to have overall multiorbital access in place by 2035.
In the past few days, the Italian government has approved Phase 2 of a feasibility study exploring the possibility of the country developing its own 100-satellite constellation. In late 2024, the Interministerial Committee for Space and Aerospace Policies (Comint) tasked the Italian Space Agency (ASI) with conducting a feasibility study on the development of a new satellite constellation.
The ASI delivered its initial report in March. On March 28th, the Ministry of Business and ‘Made in Italy’ organisation announced that it would move ahead with Phase 2. “ASI will meet with our companies to understand if they are capable, on their own, of creating the constellation,” said the Minister for Business and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso.
A report from Reuters says that the Italian scheme, should it go ahead, would be in orbit by about 2031, which is when IRIS2 is likely to be fully ready if it ticks to its proposed timetable.
At the moment it is unclear whether Italy will ‘go it alone’ and sidestep IRIS2.
The next item in the newsflow will likely occur once the new German parliamentary government is in place at the end of April. We are then likely to get a firm decision – on way or another – on where IRIS2 fits within the nation’s overall plan.
IRIS2 has in place the SpaceRISE consortium comprising Eutelsat, SES and Hispasat.
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