ESA Is Preparing to Announce Aeolus-2 Prime Contractor
•February 9, 2026
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Why It Matters
Securing the prime contractor and funding accelerates Europe’s capability to deliver next‑generation wind‑profiling data, a critical input for climate modelling and operational forecasting. The programme also reinforces ESA’s industrial base amid major aerospace consolidations.
Key Takeaways
- •ESA approves €70 million for Aeolus‑2 Phase B2.
- •Two‑satellite constellation to deliver 10+ years wind data.
- •First 2.5‑tonne satellite slated for 2034 launch.
- •Prime contractor likely Airbus amid Project Bromo merger.
- •Doppler wind lidar will measure global winds up to 40 km.
Pulse Analysis
The Aeolus‑2 mission represents a strategic upgrade to Europe’s atmospheric observation portfolio. Building on the legacy of the original Aeolus satellite, the new constellation will employ a space‑borne Doppler wind lidar—the only instrument capable of profiling winds from the surface to the stratosphere. This capability fills a long‑standing data gap, enabling more accurate numerical weather prediction models and enhancing climate‑change assessments across the continent.
ESA’s recent €70 million ATP for Phase B2 marks a decisive step toward hardware development and integration. While the agency has not formally disclosed the prime contractor, industry analysts point to Airbus Defence and Space, given its experience on the first Aeolus and its role in the forthcoming Project Bromo merger with Thales and Leonardo. The consolidation could streamline European aerospace supply chains, but it also raises governance questions that ESA will need to address to safeguard programme continuity.
For the broader market, Aeolus‑2 promises to boost demand for high‑precision meteorological services, benefiting sectors ranging from aviation to renewable energy. The extended ten‑year operational window will generate a continuous stream of wind data, supporting both commercial forecasting firms and public agencies. Moreover, the programme underscores ESA’s commitment to maintaining a competitive edge in space‑based Earth observation, reinforcing Europe’s position in a rapidly evolving global satellite industry.
ESA is Preparing to Announce Aeolus-2 Prime Contractor
Credit: ESA / ATG mediaLAB
The European Space Agency (ESA) has approved the selection of the prime contractor for its Aeolus-2 weather satellite and is preparing to conclude an initial €70 million award to begin the next phase of its development.
Aeolus-2 is the planned operational successor to the original Aeolus mission, which was built by Airbus Defence and Space and deorbited in early 2023. The mission is being developed under the EUMETSAT (European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites) European Polar System programme, in partnership with ESA, and aims to provide high-resolution wind measurements that will aid weather forecasting.
According to EUMETSAT, Aeolus-2 will consist of two satellites, launched sequentially, each carrying a Doppler Wind Lidar instrument. The instrument is unique in being the first space-based Doppler wind lidar capable of measuring global wind profiles from the lower atmosphere up to the stratosphere, at altitudes of around 40 kilometres. Each satellite is designed to have a lifespan of between 5.5 and 7 years, with the two satellites together expected to provide more than ten years of continuous operations. The launch of the first 2.5-tonne Aeolus-2 satellite is currently expected in 2034.
While ESA has not yet made an official statement on the mission’s status, a post published by an Aeolus-2 project manager indicates that the agency’s Industrial Policy Committee met in Paris on 28 January to approve the next phase of the mission’s development. According to the project manager, the Aeolus-2 prime contractor has been selected, the clarification phase is complete, and the kickoff is planned for the first quarter of 2026. During the 28 January meeting, a €70 million ATP (Authorisation To Proceed) was approved, enabling the selected prime to begin work on Phase B2.
With its work on the original Aeolus mission, one would expect Airbus Defence and Space to be a likely candidate for the prime contractor of Aeolus-2. If that occurs, the project could be folded into Project Bromo, a planned merger that would combine the space businesses of Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo. ESA may, as a result, require assurances that its development will not be hampered by the inevitable reorganization that follows the merger.
The post ESA is Preparing to Announce Aeolus-2 Prime Contractor appeared first on European Spaceflight.
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