The European Union and South Korea have agreed to deepen cooperation on secure satellite connectivity and explore future integration with IRIS², the EU’s planned secure connectivity constellation. European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius and South Korean Deputy Minister Giyoung Jeoung signed the administrative arrangement on September 17.
The agreement creates a joint working group that will exchange information on existing and planned secure-connectivity programmes. It will also examine possible joint applications and assess technical solutions for cooperation with IRIS² at system level. Representatives from the European Commission, the European Space Agency, South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration and its Agency for Defense Development are part of the group.
For South Korea, the arrangement could provide access to parts of the IRIS² architecture. The European space industry, meanwhile, could draw on South Korean industrial expertise as the two sides develop technical cooperation. The EU has already signed international agreements allowing participation in IRIS² with Norway and Iceland.
IRIS² was expanded in August after the European Commission and SpaceRISE consortium signed an implementation agreement. The deal added 66 low Earth orbit satellites, taking the main constellation to 348 satellites. The planned network comprises 330 satellites in low Earth orbit and 18 in medium Earth orbit.
The August agreement also finalised key elements of the programme’s governance, technical structure and financing. The first phase of IRIS² is scheduled for launch by the end of 2029.
