Eutelsat to use Mitsubishi’s H3 rockets for future satellite launches

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will launch multiple H3 rockets for Eutelsat starting in 2027, expanding Japan’s space ambitions.

Japan’s H3 rocket project, backed by a $1.5 billion investment, secures a major deal with Eutelsat.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has secured a significant deal to provide H3 rocket launches for French satellite company Eutelsat from 2027. This agreement marks a major step forward for Japan’s H3 project, backed by a $1.5 billion investment, aiming to expand its presence internationally. Eutelsat, the world’s third-largest satellite operator by revenue, is the second foreign client to choose H3 rockets after Britain’s Inmarsat.

The H3 project, following its first successful flight earlier this year, aims to reduce launch costs to $33 million per mission and increase the number of annual launches to ten. Rising global demand for commercial rockets has made the competitive pricing of H3 appealing. Japan hopes to position H3 as a flagship rocket for its satellite and exploration missions.

After merging with OneWeb, Eutelsat now competes directly with SpaceX’s Starlink in the low-earth orbit communications market. The global satellite sector is intensifying, with other major players such as Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, Boeing-Lockheed’s Vulcan, and Europe’s Ariane 6 also preparing for launches.

MHI’s strategy to make the H3 rocket more competitive reflects growing global interest in space exploration and communications. Japan’s ambitions with H3 align with the increasing number of companies seeking to expand satellite fleets, driven by surging demand for internet connectivity.