KPI 07 · Autonomy indicator

IRIS² satellites deployed

Strategic objective: Sovereign EU secure connectivity.

Not yet measurableData: Partially verifiedConfidence: Medium⚑ Partially verified

Latest value

0 of at least 348 (inferred)

Reporting period: As described by ESA, 30 October 2026

Source: ESA: IRIS² programme page

⚑ Partially verified

Baseline

0 of 348 (supplied)

Baseline period: 2025

Target

100% deployed

Target year: 2036 · Target hypothesis

on paceTarget 100 · 20360

0100

Status and how it was assigned

Assessment, distinct from the sourced values. Status methodology

Not yet measurableMethod: Expert assessmentDirection: higher is better

Deployment is not scheduled to begin until 2029, so progress against the deployment target cannot yet be measured. This is not an assessment of poor performance.

Expert assessment applied

Assessed status: Not yet measurable
Assessment date: 9 Nov 2026
Reviewer: Monitor editorial review (provisional; individual reviewer not yet assigned)
Reason: Deployment is not scheduled to begin until 2029, so progress against the deployment target cannot yet be measured. This is not an assessment of poor performance.
Supporting evidence: ESA (30 Oct 2026) and European Commission: IRIS² deployment not scheduled before 2029.
Confidence: Medium

Quality indicators

Data quality

⚑ Partially verified

Status of the measurement itself.

Confidence

✓ Medium

Independent of the progress status.

Data freshness

✓ Current

Latest period ends 30 Oct 2026; outdated after 24 months.

Source availability

✓ 1 of 3 verified

Source–value links fully verified.

Limitations

⚑ 2 open questions

See limitations and outstanding questions.

Definition

Number of IRIS² satellites deployed in their intended orbit, as a share of the planned constellation. Contracted, manufactured, launched, deployed and operationally ready satellites are distinct stages; this KPI counts deployment only and does not imply full operational capability.

Contracted: Satellites under contract.
Manufactured: Satellites built.
Launched: Satellites launched.
Deployed in intended orbit: Counted by this KPI.
Operationally ready: In service. Deployment is not equivalent to full operational capability.

Historical development

Insufficient historical data

Fewer than two sourced observations exist for a single, consistently defined series. A chart will appear once further reporting periods are recorded. No values are interpolated.

Observation log

All recorded values, including supplied, comparison and contextual figures. History is append-only; values are never overwritten.

Period	Value	Series · type	Source · status
Concession signature, 16 December 2024	290 satellites EU IRIS² constellation	Planned constellation size Context	European Commission: IRIS² concession signature ⚑ Conflicting evidence Earlier official description. Differs from later ESA figure (at least 348); likely a design revision, not confirmed. Confidence high · added 9 Nov 2026
As of 30 October 2026	0 of at least 348 EU IRIS² constellation	Satellites deployed Baseline	ESA: IRIS² programme page ⚑ Partially verified Inferred: ESA states launches start in 2029. No source explicitly reports zero deployed. Supplied baseline "0 of 348" is consistent. Confidence medium · added 9 Nov 2026
Programme description, 30 October 2026	At least 348 (≥330 LEO + 18 MEO) EU IRIS² constellation	Planned constellation size Context	ESA: IRIS² programme page ✓ Verified primary source "Multi-orbital constellation of at least 348 satellites"; "at least 330 satellites located in low Earth orbit (LEO) and 18 in medium Earth orbit (MEO)". Confidence high · added 9 Nov 2026

Period

Value

Series · type

Source · status

Concession signature, 16 December 2024

290 satellites

EU IRIS² constellation

Planned constellation size

Context

European Commission: IRIS² concession signature

⚑ Conflicting evidence

Earlier official description. Differs from later ESA figure (at least 348); likely a design revision, not confirmed.

Confidence high · added 9 Nov 2026

As of 30 October 2026

0 of at least 348

EU IRIS² constellation

Satellites deployed

Baseline

ESA: IRIS² programme page

⚑ Partially verified

Inferred: ESA states launches start in 2029. No source explicitly reports zero deployed. Supplied baseline "0 of 348" is consistent.

Confidence medium · added 9 Nov 2026

Programme description, 30 October 2026

At least 348 (≥330 LEO + 18 MEO)

EU IRIS² constellation

Planned constellation size

Context

ESA: IRIS² programme page

✓ Verified primary source

"Multi-orbital constellation of at least 348 satellites"; "at least 330 satellites located in low Earth orbit (LEO) and 18 in medium Earth orbit (MEO)".

Confidence high · added 9 Nov 2026

Method

Unit: Satellites deployed (of planned constellation)
Calculation: Satellites deployed in intended orbit ÷ planned constellation size × 100. Planned size per latest ESA description: at least 348 (at least 330 LEO + 18 MEO).
Numerator: IRIS² satellites deployed in intended orbit
Denominator: Planned constellation size (at least 348)
Geographic scope: EU (IRIS² is an EU programme; ESA is a partner, not an EU institution)
Update frequency: Event-driven once launches begin
Data status: Partially verified
Confidence: Medium
Record last updated: 9 Nov 2026
Record created: 9 Nov 2026

Validation review

Definition: Partially
Baseline verified: Partially
Target justified: Partially
Method documented: Partially
Source quality: High
Reviewed: 9 Nov 2026 · Monitor editorial review (provisional)
Notes: Reference constellation size differs between sources (290 vs at least 348). No official deployment tracking source yet.

Limitations and caveats

No source explicitly states that zero satellites are deployed; zero is inferred from ESA's statement that launches start in 2029. The Commission described a 290-satellite constellation at concession signature (December 2024); ESA later describes at least 348. The change likely reflects a revised design but this has not been confirmed. Existing GOVSATCOM capacity must not be counted as IRIS² satellites.

Outstanding questions

Confirm the reference constellation size (290 per Commission, Dec 2024; at least 348 per ESA, Oct 2026).
Identify an official source that reports deployment progress once launches begin.

Context (not KPI values)

Planned schedule (ESA)
Launches starting in 2029; early services from 2030.

Sources and evidence

What each source supports for this KPI. A URL alone does not make a value verified.

Open in source register

primary source
ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity – IRIS²
European Space Agency (ESA) · European Space Agency
Published: 30 Oct 2026 · Accessed: 9 Nov 2026
"Multi-orbital constellation of at least 348 satellites"; "at least 330 satellites located in low Earth orbit (LEO) and 18 in medium Earth orbit (MEO)"; "With launches starting in 2029 and early services starting to be provided in 2030".
Reference period: Programme description, 30 October 2026 · Scope: EU IRIS²
Limitations: Zero deployed is inferred from the launch schedule, not stated.
✓ Verified primary sourceChecked 9 Nov 2026
Constellation size and schedule located in retrieved text.
primary source
ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity – IRIS²
European Space Agency (ESA) · European Space Agency
Published: 30 Oct 2026 · Accessed: 9 Nov 2026
Launches starting in 2029 (implies no IRIS² satellites deployed as of October 2026).
Reference period: As of 30 October 2026 · Scope: EU IRIS²
Limitations: Inference.
⚑ Partially verifiedChecked 9 Nov 2026
Deployment count inferred, not reported.
secondary source
Commission takes next step to deploy the IRIS² secure satellite system
European Commission (DG DEFIS) · EU institution / agency
Published: 16 Dec 2024 · Accessed: 9 Nov 2026
"A multi-orbital constellation of 290 satellite[s]"; "governmental and commercial connectivity services by 2030."
Reference period: 16 December 2024 · Scope: EU IRIS²
Limitations: Earlier design description.
⚑ Conflicting evidenceChecked 9 Nov 2026
Differs from ESA (at least 348). Both figures preserved.

Related strategic risks

Suggested relationships, not validated causal links.

R3 Centralisation versus flexibility
IRIS² delivery depends on large centralised programme governance.
⚑ Suggested link — not validated

Related capabilities

Suggested relationships, not validated causal links.

C03 Secure governmental communications
IRIS² deployment measures secure governmental communications.
⚑ Suggested link — not validated

Related news

Reserved for linking in a later phase.

No news linked yet

The news module is not yet implemented.