MDA Space to supply digital antennas for 66 early-delivery IRIS² satellites
The Canadian company signed an authorisation to proceed with Thales Alenia Space for phased array antennas and a controller for the first layer of the EU's secure connectivity constellation.
MDA Space said on 30 October 2026 that it has entered into an agreement with Thales Alenia Space to begin work on its AURORA broadband digital phased array antennas and a digital antenna controller for the 66 “Layer 1” satellites of IRIS², the EU’s secure connectivity constellation in low Earth orbit.
The agreement is an authorisation to proceed, which the company valued at more than $100 million. The release does not state the currency; European Spaceflight reports the figure in Canadian dollars. MDA Space said a definitive contract for its full scope of work is still subject to finalisation, and that the authorisation will enter its backlog in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026.
The antennas are direct radiating arrays that form and steer their beams digitally. MDA Space says they are built for high-volume production and are designed, manufactured and tested at its facility in Montréal. Chief executive Mike Greenley said the first set of Layer 1 satellites is due to launch in 2029.
Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture of Thales (67 per cent) and Leonardo (33 per cent), was selected in September to develop the communications payloads for the Layer 1 satellites, according to European Spaceflight.
The announcement came on the same day that Canada and the EU, in a joint statement at their summit in Montréal, agreed to open exploratory talks on a cooperation framework for IRIS².
Source: MDA Space