Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, and Jeoung Giyoung, Deputy Minister for the Advanced Capabilities Program of the Republic of Korea.
Today, the European Commission and the Republic of Korea have agreed to strengthen cooperation on secure satellite connectivity and explore future integration with IRIS², the EU’s secure connectivity constellation. For the Republic of Korea, this could open access to the programme’s architecture, while the EU space industry could draw on Korean industrial expertise.
The administrative arrangement was signed by Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space, and Giyoung Jeoung, Deputy Minister for the Advanced Capabilities Program of the Republic of Korea. The agreement sets up a working group to exchange information on existing and forthcoming secure‑connectivity programmes, explore joint applications and use cases, and assess technical solutions for cooperation at system level with IRIS². The working group brings together the Commission, the European Space Agency, and the Republic of Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration and Agency for Defense Development, alongside representatives from other agencies and national authorities.
The first phase of IRIS² is scheduled for launch by the end of 2029. In August 2026, the conclusion of negotiations on the programme’s governance, technical set-up and financing confirmed the system architecture and shortlisted the main suppliers for the programme.
IRIS² is open to cooperation with third countries through international treaties, and such treaties have so far been signed with Norway and Iceland.
