IRIS² – The New EU Programme Providing Secure Communications Via Satellites

IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) is the EU’s new satellite constellation for secure communications. IRIS² is conceived as a system of systems, comprising satellites in LEO and MEO orbits. It aims to provide a suite of connectivity services to end users with heterogeneous needs, including governmental and commercial. The commercial exploitation of the IRIS² shared infrastructure, along with the synergies between the governmental and commercial infrastructures, support the establishment of a public-private partnership. The IRIS² service portfolio features a variety of communications services, spanning from high-throughput, low-latency broadband services to low-throughput narrowband services. IRIS² will also provide space data relay services to connect users in space, unmanned aerial platforms and communication gateways. The multi-layered architecture of IRIS² will efficiently cater for the heterogeneous needs of its users. In addition, high-speed optical inter-satellite links will interconnect IRIS² satellites to enable more secure and effective routing in space. The programme will also develop pilot and test user terminals to validate and monitor the end-to-end provisioning of IRIS² services, as well as to stimulate their mass-market production. To ensure the trustworthiness of its actors, IRIS² will adopt a robust security governance model similar to that of Galileo (for positioning, navigation and timing). It will deploy a robust Information Security Management System and an effective incident and crisis management organisation. The programme will have a strong focus on environmental and space sustainability, including provisions to minimise and offset the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the development, production and deployment of the infrastructure, as well as measures to prevent light pollution, such as the impact on ground-based astronomical observations. To benefit from a robust and dynamic technology ecosystem, enable interoperability amongst user terminals from different manufacturers and improve its overall cost effectiveness, IRIS² will adopt 3GPP Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) standards in the space, ground and user segments. This will help realise the IRIS²’s vision of seamless integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks in a single infrastructure and service continuum. This paper provides an overview of the IRIS² programme, its service portfolio, key mission requirements, technology trade-offs and general security aspects. By presenting the programme's multi-orbital architecture, innovative technologies and robust governance model, this paper builds the case for how IRIS² is poised to become a strategic asset for the European Union, enhancing its security, defence and digital sovereignty.

FERRAGUT Jaime;  MONTESANTI Giuditta;  GINESI Alberto;  ROQUES Damien;  ARAPOGLOU Pantelis-Daniel;  CIONI Stefano;  CRISCI Massimo;  DAURON Guillaume;  GUILLERMIN Nicolas;  HANAN Anas;  MENGALI Alberto;  QUILES Alfredo;  ROMERO FERNANDEZ Pedro;  SALLANTIN Renaud;  SCARDA Stefano;  GODET Jeremie;  SALGADO Guillermo; 

2024-12-03

International Astronautical Federation (IAF)

JRC139380