ST Engineering iDirect’s EU Satcom Centre of Excellence, based in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, has announced the launch of Phase 2 of the European Protected Waveform (EPW) project. The initiative, led by Belgium’s Ministry of Defence with ST Engineering iDirect Europe as the consortium lead, marks a major step forward in Europe’s pursuit of secure, resilient and autonomous satellite communication systems.
The EPW project is a collaborative effort involving 22 organisations from 12 EU Member States, bringing together expertise from the public sector, industry and academia. Its objective is to develop an advanced, end-to-end waveform solution tailored to meet the complex demands of military and critical government communications, particularly in contested and evolving operational environments.
Building on the foundational work completed in Phase 1, which laid the groundwork for the waveform’s design, the second phase of the project will focus on prototyping and integrating the EPW system. A key aim is to ensure that the system is fully secure and interoperable, aligning with the strategic priorities of major European initiatives such as the upcoming IRIS² satellite constellation and the EU’s GovSatCom programme.
Theo Francken, Belgian Minister of Defence, said: “Together with ST Engineering iDirect Europe, we are investing in the backbone of modern military operations: secure and reliable communication. With support from the European Defence Fund, we are advancing technological innovation, strengthening strategic autonomy, and enhancing the safety of our troops. In today’s uncertain world, European cooperation in research and development is not a luxury — it’s an absolute necessity. This project aligns perfectly with our broader mission to modernise Defence and deepen European collaboration in R&D.”
Koen Willems, Vice President, EU Programmes, at ST Engineering iDirect Europe, added: “The advancement to EPW Phase 2 underscores the strategic importance of this initiative to bolster European autonomy in secure satellite communications. This recognition by the European Defence Fund demonstrates the urgent necessity to address emerging threats and foster resilience for critical operations across Europe.”
The total investment in the EPW project now stands at €65m, with €35m dedicated to Phase 2 following the €30m allocation in Phase 1. This investment highlights Europe’s commitment to advancing protected satellite communications and strengthening collaborative defence capabilities among its Member States.
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