Skip to the stories
Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Saved

Next edition

16:03

Headlines

Commercial Launch

ESA orders four more Galileo Second Generation satellites from industry

The European Space Agency extended contracts with Airbus and Thales Alenia Space for four additional navigation satellites to expand Europe's second-generation fleet.

FTMQ Space, written by our newsroom0 views

Share
Picture: SatNews

On Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the European Space Agency announced contract extensions with Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space to construct four additional uncrewed Galileo Second Generation navigation satellites. SatNews, ESA News, and Satellite Today all reported that the agency exercised options for two additional spacecraft from each manufacturer on behalf of the European Commission. [1][2][3]

Satellite Today and Space Intel Report confirmed that each manufacturer will now build a total of eight second-generation satellites. SatNews reported that the addition of these four spacecraft expands the planned next-generation uncrewed fleet to 16 satellites. Space Intel Report added that the new satellites are scheduled to launch in 2031. [1][3][6]

According to SatNews, the extensions build on awards finalized in 2021, when the agency committed 1.47 billion euros across both companies for an initial batch of 12 spacecraft. Satellite Today also confirmed that both industrial prime contractors had previously been awarded contracts for the initial second-generation fleet. [1][3]

Galileo is a global navigation satellite system created by the European Union through the agency. The fully operational constellation will nominally consist of 30 satellites in medium Earth orbit, featuring 24 active spacecraft and 6 spares distributed evenly across three orbital planes. [8][9]

According to ESA News, the procurement ensures long-term continuity for the navigation constellation and supports the rollout of new services. [2]

Share

In short

  • ESA ordered two additional Galileo Second Generation satellites each from Airbus and Thales Alenia Space.
  • The new contracts expand the total planned Galileo Second Generation fleet to 16 satellites.
  • Each manufacturer is now contracted to build eight second-generation satellites.
  • The contract extensions build on a 1.47 billion euro commitment made by ESA in 2021.

Sources

Every paragraph above points to the numbered items it rests on. Read the originals here.

  1. [1]ESA Orders Four Additional Galileo Second Generation Satellites From Airbus and ThalesSatNews, 1h ago (the report this story comes from)
  2. [2]ESA procures four new Galileo Second Generation satellitesESA News, 15h ago
  3. [3]Airbus and Thales Contracted for 2 Galileo Satellites EachSatellite Today, 5h ago
  4. [4]ESA Orders Four Additional Galileo Second Generation Satellites From Airbus and ThalesSatNews Publishers, 1h ago
  5. [5]Contract for two additional Galileo satellitesAirbus, 15h ago
  6. [6]Thales Alenia Space, Airbus each book two additional Galileo Second Generation satellites, to launch 2031Space Intel Report, 13h ago
  7. [7]Airbus achieves a new contract from the ESA to build two additional Galileo G2 satellitesDemócrata, 13h ago

Background

  1. [8]Galileo (satellite navigation system) on Wikipedia
  2. [9]List of Galileo satellites on Wikipedia
  3. [10]Thales of Miletus on Wikipedia
  4. [11]Hubble data reveals chemical clue pointing to second generation planet FTMQ Space, 15d ago

Our newsroom writes these reports with the help of software, from the 11 sources listed and nothing else, and checks them against those sources. Facts can still be wrong or move on; the originals are the record. Spotted a mistake? Write to daniel@monsterkong.com.

Related from FTMQ Space

Earlier reports of ours on the same people and subjects.

More in Commercial Launch

Get the day in one email

Reports like this one, the top news of the last 24 hours, every morning. Free, one email a day; readers can comment under every report.

By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Unsubscribe any time.

Comments

Loading

Join the conversation

Comments are open to readers of our daily email: the top news of the last 24 hours, every morning, free. Sign up and the comment box opens.

Already on the list? Enter the same address and we will send a sign-in link.

By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Unsubscribe any time.