Airbus Defence and Space has secured a new contract from Eutelsat to manufacture an additional 340 low Earth orbit satellites for the OneWeb constellation, expanding an earlier order placed in December 2024 for 100 spacecraft. The latest agreement brings the total number of satellites ordered by Eutelsat to 440, strengthening the long-term operational continuity of the OneWeb network.
The new satellites will be produced at Airbus Defence and Space’s facility in Toulouse using a newly established production line, with deliveries scheduled to begin towards the end of 2026. The programme represents a further step in reinforcing European technological sovereignty in space-based connectivity.
Eutelsat’s OneWeb constellation currently consists of more than 600 satellites operating across 12 coordinated orbital planes at an altitude of approximately 1,200 km. The network delivers high-speed, low-latency broadband connectivity worldwide. The newly ordered satellites will gradually replace earlier generations approaching the end of their operational life, ensuring uninterrupted service for customers and partners.
In addition to securing continuity, the new satellites will feature a range of technology upgrades, including advanced digital channelisers that enhance onboard processing, efficiency and operational flexibility. Their optimised architecture is designed to support improved long-term performance, while also opening the door to new commercial opportunities such as hosted payload capabilities.
Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems in Airbus, said: “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, Eutelsat Chief Executive Officer, added: “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.”
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