Spain Allocates $2.3 Billion for IRIS²-Integrated Military Satcom
Madrid has committed up to €2 billion to develop a national multi-orbit military constellation, reinforcing the European Union's IRIS² sovereign internet initiative.
Strategic Expansion
Madrid has formalized a major commitment to European orbital sovereignty. According to SpaceNews, the Spanish government will allocate between €1.6 billion and €2 billion ($1.8 to $2.3 billion) for a national military satellite communications constellation. This infrastructure is designed for integration into the European Union’s IRIS² multi-orbit broadband initiative.
Technical and Financial Parameters
The Ministry of Defense presented the "Multi-Orbit SATCOM SMP" during a July 29 session of the National Committee for Technological Security and Sovereignty. The funding covers the entire lifecycle of the system, including the space segment, ground-based control infrastructure, and ongoing management operations. This move follows Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's earlier projection of Spain as a European space benchmark, noting that the national sector generated €1.5 billion in 2025.
The IRIS² Network
IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) is the EU’s multi-orbit answer to private mega-constellations like Starlink. The full network is projected to consist of 292 satellites—comprising 18 in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and 274 in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) tiers.
Spain’s commitment mirrors a recent €749 million pledge from Poland, which includes the construction of 12 satellites and a gateway station. European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius noted that these national investments are critical for the bloc to reach full operational capacity by 2030, ensuring high-speed broadband and secure governmental communication channels across the continent.