Eutelsat Orders 340 More OneWeb Satellites as Airbus Scales LEO Manufacturing

Airbus has strengthened Europe’s position in low Earth orbit connectivity with a major new satellite manufacturing contract from Eutelsat. Through its space division, Airbus Defence and Space will build an additional 340 satellites for the OneWeb constellation, reinforcing the long-term resilience and competitiveness of Europe’s flagship LEO network.

Combined with the 100 satellites ordered in December 2024, Eutelsat’s total procurement now stands at 440 next-generation spacecraft. The expanded order ensures uninterrupted operations for OneWeb as earlier-generation satellites approach the end of their operational life, while also laying the groundwork for new commercial and governmental use cases.

Industrial Scale, Strategic Impact

The satellites will be manufactured at Airbus Defence and Space’s Toulouse facility on a newly installed, high-throughput production line, with deliveries scheduled to begin at the end of 2026. Beyond capacity expansion, the program is widely seen as a concrete step toward reinforcing European space and connectivity sovereignty.

Upgraded Technology for a More Flexible Constellation

The new satellites will feature advanced digital channelizers, delivering enhanced onboard processing, improved efficiency, and greater flexibility in managing traffic across regions and customers. Their optimized architecture is designed to maximize long-term performance while opening the door to new revenue opportunities, including hosted payloads for institutional and commercial partners.

OneWeb’s LEO network currently operates more than 600 satellites across 12 synchronized orbital planes at an altitude of roughly 1,200 kilometers. Together, they provide global, high-speed, low-latency connectivity, supporting customers ranging from enterprise and mobility operators to government and defense users worldwide.

A Partnership Built Over Decades

“This latest contract from Eutelsat is an endorsement of our design and manufacturing expertise for LEO satellites,” said Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus. “Airbus has been a key partner and supplier to Eutelsat for more than 30 years, and this award further cements our important relationship.”

Eutelsat CEO Jean-François Fallacher highlighted the strategic value of the agreement, noting that the satellites will ensure service continuity for a growing customer base while supporting the company’s long-term growth ambitions through the unparalleled performance of its low-latency LEO capacity.

As global demand accelerates for resilient, secure, and sovereign connectivity infrastructure, the Airbus–Eutelsat agreement underscores how industrial scale, advanced technology, and trusted partnerships are shaping the next phase of the LEO satellite market.