Airbus Defence and Space has secured a contract from Eutelsat to manufacture an additional 340 OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. This order follows a previous procurement of 100 satellites in December 2024, bringing the total number ordered by Eutelsat to 440. The new satellites are intended to maintain the operational continuity of the OneWeb satellite constellation.
Production will take place at Airbus Defence and Space’s facility in Toulouse on a newly established production line, with deliveries expected to begin at the end of 2026. The move is described as contributing to European sovereignty in space technology.
Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO network provides high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity worldwide through a constellation of more than 600 satellites operating in 12 synchronized orbital planes at an altitude of approximately 1,200 kilometers. The latest batch of satellites is set to replace older units reaching the end of their operational life, ensuring uninterrupted service for customers.
The new satellites will feature advanced digital channelisers that enhance onboard processing capabilities, aiming for greater efficiency and flexibility. Their design also includes optimized architecture to maximize long-term performance. In addition, Eutelsat plans to explore new business opportunities by evaluating options for hosted payloads on these satellites.
Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus, stated: “This latest contract from Eutelsat is an endorsement of our design and manufacturing expertise for LEO satellites. Airbus has been a key partner and supplier to Eutelsat for more than 30 years and this award further cements our important relationship.”
Jean-François Fallacher, Chief Executive Officer of Eutelsat, commented: “We are pleased to rely on our long-standing partner, Airbus, for the procurement of these latest satellites. They ensure service continuity for the growing number of our customers and distribution partners benefiting from the unparalleled performance of our ubiquitous, low latency LEO capacity, and enable us to pursue our growth path.”
