EU is making its own satellite system like Elon Musk's Starlink. Its first satellites are expected to launch in 2029

Elon Musk's Starlink and its military-grade version Starshield has been the backbone of Ukraine in its war efforts against Russia. However, a restriction of Starshield earlier this week alarmed the country's military and government officials this week, with commanders reporting lost drones and disrupted missions. The incident raised fresh questions about Ukraine’s reliance on the Starshield program and who actually controls access to it. Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski also slammed Musk for the outage in an X post saying: "Hey, Elon Musk, you big man, are you once again playing politics with your products? As your European customers we are keeping a close eye on you." Notably, the EU has been making a rival of Starlink for many years now with over 300+ satellites but the first satelite will only launch in 2029.

What is the EU's IRIS² satellite network?

IRIS² stands for Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite. The European Union's planned constellation is intended to provide secure communications for government agencies, defence operations and emergency services, alongside connectivity for other users.

The network is planned to include 330 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and 18 in medium Earth orbit (MEO), bringing the total to 348 satellites. Of these, 66 are intended specifically to strengthen defence, security and emergency-response capabilities. The satellites will operate across two orbital regimes, allowing the network to combine different coverage and communications capabilities.


The first launches are scheduled for 2029, with services expected to become available gradually from 2029 or 2030. IRIS² is part of Europe's broader effort to strengthen its digital sovereignty and ensure that governments can access secure satellite communications without relying entirely on infrastructure controlled by companies outside the bloc.

What is Starshield?

Starlink is SpaceX's commercial satellite internet network, which uses thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit to provide broadband connectivity to ground terminals. It can supply internet access in remote areas and locations where conventional communications infrastructure has been damaged or is unavailable.

Starshield, meanwhile, is SpaceX's satellite programme designed for government and national security customers. Built on technology developed for Starlink, it is intended for missions requiring additional security and specialised capabilities.

These can include secure communications, Earth observation and satellites equipped with specialised sensors. The programme also incorporates additional encryption and security measures for sensitive government operations.

The US government is a major Starshield customer. Musk has this month confirmed that the US government owns and controls the system, with decisions about its use resting with the US military and, ultimately, the president. His remarks have renewed questions about the extent to which Ukraine can rely on satellite services when access to particular military capabilities may be restricted.

How are Starlink and Starshield linked?

Although Starlink and Starshield serve different customers, they share much of the same technological foundation, including SpaceX's satellite engineering and communications capabilities.

Starlink primarily provides commercial internet services, while Starshield is designed for government and national security missions. The latter can use dedicated satellites and specialised equipment, while also drawing on parts of the wider Starlink infrastructure.

The distinction matters because a restriction affecting a particular military service does not necessarily mean that the entire Starlink network has been switched off. Similarly, the continued operation of civilian Starlink terminals does not guarantee that specialised military connectivity will remain available.