Italian Earth observation fleet gains eight new IRIDE satellites

by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Nov 28, 2025

Italy's IRIDE Earth observation programme has expanded with the launch of eight Eaglet II satellites, adding a second constellation to the growing national fleet. The spacecraft rode into orbit on a Falcon 9 mission that lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 19:44 CET on 28 November, with deployment completed about an hour after launch and signals from all satellites later confirmed by OHB's Mission Control Centre in Rome.

The Falcon 9 rideshare carried several other satellites into orbit, including HydroGNSS, ESA's first Scout mission under the FutureEO programme, and two ICEYE radar satellites procured for Greece. With Eaglet II now in orbit, IRIDE operates 16 satellites whose data feed into products such as maps, monitoring services and multi-temporal analyses used by Italian public authorities, including the civil protection department, and by commercial users ranging from startups to larger industrial firms.

Each Eaglet II satellite carries a multispectral high-resolution optical instrument together with an Automatic Identification System payload, with OHB Italia serving as prime contractor. The satellites will operate in low Earth orbit at altitudes between roughly 467 km and 625 km, providing imagery with a ground sampling distance of about 2 m. The mission is designed for a lifetime of about three years and will eventually comprise 24 satellites, each about the size of a domestic microwave oven and with a mass close to 25 kg.

Eaglet II is the second of six planned IRIDE constellations, following the Hawk for Earth Observation system that was launched earlier in 2025. A further four constellations are in development, bringing the total IRIDE fleet to 68 satellites, with launches planned in stages to reach full deployment by 2027.

The IRIDE system is a national Italian initiative intended to provide broad satellite coverage of phenomena such as ground deformation, land use, inland and coastal water conditions and other environmental indicators. Its imagery and derived products support decision-making by public authorities across environmental management, emergency response and security planning. The mission name is both an acronym for "International Report for an Innovative Defence of Earth" and a reference to the Italian word "iride," or iris, reflecting the constellation's combined use of optical and radar sensors as "eyes in the sky" over national territory.

"The launch of the Eaglet II constellation represents another very important step for the IRIDE programme," said Simonetta Cheli, ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes. "The satellite data acquired by these constellations will support Italy's monitoring and protection mechanisms as well as contributing to the management of resources and national security. Reaching this new milestone was possible thanks to the contribution of all the teams involved. In particular, I would like to congratulate OHB Italia, Optec, Aresys and all the companies involved in the creation of this constellation, as well as, of course, my team managing the programme's implementation."

Teodoro Valente, President of the Italian Space Agency, noted, "The launch of the Eaglet II constellation also confirms the Italian space sector's ability to meet the challenging timelines required to deploy PNRR funds." He added that coordinated work between ESA and ASI means government investments are now delivering space systems that incorporate advanced technology.

Roberto Aceti, CEO of OHB Italia, said, "IRIDE represents a new approach to Earth observation: an integrated system serving citizens, institutions and the scientific community. This achievement goes beyond technology, representing the advancement of knowledge and skills that will help Europe address global challenges with greater awareness and responsibility."