BRUSSELS

The European Union has launched its own secure and encrypted satellite communication system, marking a major step toward strengthening Europe’s space sovereignty and defense capabilities, EU Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius said Tuesday.

Speaking at the 18th European Space Conference in Brussels, Kubilius announced the start of GOVSATCOM operations, which pool national satellite capacities to provide secure communications for EU governments and militaries.

"We started very important GOVSATCOM operations related with high-risk square development that means that all member states now can have access to sovereign satellite communication, military, and government secure and encrypted and built in Europe and operated in Europe under European control," Kubilius said.

He described the launch as a “first step” toward a fully autonomous European space communications architecture, adding that coverage and bandwidth will be expanded globally by 2027 through additional capacity purchased from commercial partners, alongside enhanced security measures.

Kubilius also confirmed that the EU’s next-generation secure satellite constellation, IRIS2, is progressing in parallel and is expected to begin initial services in 2029.

The multi-orbit IRIS2 constellation, comprising around 290 satellites, is designed to provide an encrypted communications backbone for EU institutions, member states, and public agencies.

The project has gained urgency amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and growing political tensions with the US, which have accelerated Europe’s push to protect sensitive space-based assets.

Kubilius also suggested creating a “virtual European Space Command” that would allow member states to share and mobilize space assets more efficiently in times of crisis or war.

Such cooperation would form a core pillar of the planned European Space Defense Shield, which he said will be presented later this year as part of the EU Commission’s Defense Readiness Roadmap.

Kubilius further highlighted upcoming negotiations on the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework, noting that the commission has proposed a fivefold increase in funding for both space and defense.

On his part, European Space Agency (ESA) Director General Josef Aschbacher warned that Europe is falling behind global competitors, citing a widening gap in public space investment.

"In 2024 the US invested six times more in public space funding than all European actors combined... China spent 50% more compared to Europe, and as a result, Europe's global share declined by 50% in relative terms between 2019 and 2024. This should ring alarm bells... Europe must catch up and fast," Aschbacher said.