MDA Space starts building antennas for Europe's IRIS² satellites

MDA Space signed an authorization to proceed with Thales Alenia Space, worth more than $100 million, so work can start while the final contract is still being negotiated.

First-layer IRIS² satellites with MDA antennas

66 satellites

The digital antennas are for the first 66 satellites of IRIS², the European Union's planned secure-communications constellation.

MDA will design, build and test its AURORA phased-array antennas, which steer beams electronically instead of moving a dish, at its Montreal facility ahead of launches planned for 2029.

And us?

The news came the same day Canada and the EU agreed at their Montreal summit to start exploratory talks on cooperating on IRIS².