- Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) (7011.T) has agreed to provide multiple H3 rocket launches for French satellite company Eutelsat Group (ETL.PA) starting in 2027, the company announced on Wednesday.
- MHI has previously stated its aim to reduce the per-launch costs of the H3 to 5 billion yen and to increase the number of annual rocket launches to ten.
OUR TAKE
This collaboration also signifies a shift in how global aerospace partnerships are formed, fostering technological advancements and innovation sharing. With Eutelsat now as MHI’s second foreign client, this may lead to further opportunities for Japanese aerospace technology on the international stage, while also enhancing Eutelsat’s capabilities in deploying its satellite systems. Overall, this deal could pave the way for a more dynamic and competitive satellite launch landscape in Europe and beyond.
-Tacy Ding, BTW reporter
What happened
Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) (7011.T) has agreed to provide multiple H3 rocket launches for French satellite company Eutelsat Group (ETL.PA) starting in 2027, the company announced on Wednesday. This deal represents a significant overseas success for Japan’s 220 billion yen ($1.55 billion) state-backed H3 rocket project, which achieved its first successful flight in February following a failure last year.
Eutelsat, the world’s third-largest satellite operator by revenue, will become the second foreign client for the H3 rocket, following Britain’s Inmarsat, according to MHI.
A spokesperson for MHI declined to comment on the specific terms of the agreement, including the costs and the types of orbits Eutelsat will use the H3 for its satellite launches.
MHI has previously stated its aim to reduce the per-launch costs of the H3 to 5 billion yen and to increase the number of annual rocket launches to ten.
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Why it’s important
For MHI and the Japanese government, the H3 is a flagship rocket for Japan’s satellite and exploration missions, as well as a cost-competitive product. This comes in response to the rising global demand for rockets, particularly following the emergence of commercial launch operators like SpaceX.
After merging with OneWeb last year, Eutelsat competes with Elon Musk-led SpaceX’s Starlink unit in the low-earth orbit communications satellite sector.
Several new rockets have been introduced this year. The Vulcan, developed by the Boeing (BA.N) and Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) joint venture United Launch Alliance, successfully launched in January.
Mitsubishi’s provision of H3 rockets for France’s Eutelsat from 2027 is important as it underscores growing international collaboration between Japan and Europe in the aerospace sector. This partnership enhances Eutelsat’s satellite deployment capabilities through a next-generation, cost-effective launch vehicle, contributing to increased competition in the European satellite launch market. Moreover, it opens avenues for technological advancements and exchanges, benefiting both parties through shared innovations.
