Aerospacelab wins €2.4 billion deal to build majority of IRIS² satellites

Sept 10 (Reuters) - Belgium's Aerospacelab said on Thursday it had won a €2.4 billion ($2.8 billion) contract to build 264 satellites for the European Union's IRIS² network, which is due to offer secure communications for governments, security agencies and commercial users by 2030.

Aerospacelab said it would be responsible for building 76% of the planned 348 satellites, the single largest disclosed manufacturing allocation for IRIS², offering a clearer picture of how the work is being divided.

At the contract value, the award translates to roughly €9.1 million per satellite.

The company said it would design, manufacture and deliver fully integrated low-Earth-orbit satellites through the Eutelsat-led SpaceRISE consortium, which was chosen to develop and operate the network under a concession deal with the EU.

The allocation to the 8-year-old company also offers a look into the evolving space supply chain in Europe.

Last month, the European Space Agency selected Germany's Isar Aerospace to provide launch services for parts of its institutional missions, in a sign that newer entrants are taking a growing role alongside Europe's established contractors such as Airbus, Thales Alenia Space and OHB.

($1 = 0.8603 euros)

(Reporting by Maria Rugamer; editing by Izabela Niemiec and Milla Nissi-Prussak)