Airbus Defence and Space has delivered the first batch of 32 next-generation OneWeb satellites to Eutelsat. These units are currently being prepared for shipment from the company's serial production facility in Toulouse to the United States, where their launch is scheduled to take place.
This delivery marks the beginning of a larger project involving 669 satellites ordered by Eutelsat. These new spacecraft are designed to replace the existing OneWeb fleet currently operating in low Earth orbit as the original units reach the end of their operational lifespan.
The production process for these satellites has been relocated back to Europe. Alain Fauré, head of the space division at Airbus, noted that this move confirms the company's ability to maintain high-rate serial production within the region, strengthening Europe's position in the global satellite market.
