On May 20, 2026, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Spanish Space Agency (Agencia Espacial Española, or AEE) signed a formal Memorandum of Intent to deepen technical cooperation and expand industrial activities focused on secure satellite connectivity.
Signed at a time when Europe is aggressively consolidating its aerospace supply chains, the agreement reinforces Spain’s position as a tier-one contributor to European strategic autonomy and digital resilience.
Aligning National Capabilities with the IRIS² Infrastructure
The core objective of the agreement is to build a structured framework for exploring expanded space program activities within Spain, directly supporting the EU’s multi-billion-euro flagship project: IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite).
Under the new memorandum, ESA and AEE will co-manage technical oversight pathways that allow Spanish aerospace firms to capture key infrastructure contracts within the SpaceRISE consortium—the industrial entity selected to build out the IRIS² network. The joint framework is split into distinct operational tasks aligned with European goals:
- “Hard Gov” Security Integration: Coordinating Spain’s contribution to Element 1 of the program, which governs highly encrypted, restricted-access satellite communication systems tailored specifically for government-authorized military and border-surveillance users.
- Commercial and “Light Gov” Prototyping: Expanding Element 2 and Element 3 initiatives to de-risk low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite concepts and optimize user uptake for commercial secure broadband access.
Industrial Rationale and the Multi-Constellation Roadmap
The agreement capitalizes on a massive surge in Spain’s space sector investments, with the country’s contribution to ESA expanding by over 50 percent in recent years. By establishing a dedicated technical framework, the AEE ensures that its domestic investments flow directly back to Spanish companies under ESA’s geographic return principles.
This localized manufacturing push will directly benefit major regional projects, including the Atlantic Constellation—a joint 16-satellite climate and security monitoring initiative co-developed with Portugal—where Spanish satellite builders are responsible for the integration and manufacturing of the initial batch of spacecraft.
Furthermore, the secure connectivity framework will foster closer technical alignment with ESA’s newly reorganized Resilience, Navigation, and Connectivity Directorate (D/RNC). By integrating Spain’s localized space tracking facilities, including the European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) near Madrid, into the broader European secure routing architecture, the partnership builds a weather-resilient, jam-resistant communications mesh capable of defending sovereign European data against rising cross-border electronic warfare threats.
