The European Space Agency (ESA) has taken a significant step in advancing quantum communications, signing a €50m contract with aerospace giant Thales Alenia Space.
The deal initiates the preliminary design phase of the Security And cryptoGrAphic (SAGA) mission, an ambitious satellite project that will harness quantum technologies to secure Europe’s most sensitive communications.
The contract was signed by Antonio Sturiale, Director of Domain Telecommunication Italy at Thales Alenia Space, and Laurent Jaffart, ESA’s Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications, with European Commission representative Aymard de Touzalin also in attendance.
The agreement, sealed during the Quantum Europe Forum in Brussels on 1 October, marks a pivotal moment for the continent’s digital security ambitions.
ESA and its partners aim to complete SAGA’s preliminary design review within two years, paving the way for manufacturing and eventual deployment.
Commenting on the deal, Jaffart said: “With SAGA, our aim is to ambitiously advance satellite communications, furthering Europe’s digital sovereignty, cybersecurity and industrial competitiveness in the quantum era.
“We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Thales Alenia Space, which puts our Member States at the forefront of the race for truly secure connectivity.”
How SAGA strengthens Europe’s digital defences
At its core, SAGA will demonstrate quantum key distribution (QKD) via satellite, a breakthrough technology that generates encryption keys based on the principles of quantum mechanics.
Unlike traditional cryptography, QKD ensures that any attempt to intercept or tamper with a key immediately destroys it, guaranteeing unprecedented levels of security.
This innovation will complement quantum encryption networks already being developed across the European Union, enabling secure long-distance transmission of cryptographic keys.
By doing so, SAGA will protect classified government communications, institutional data, and critical infrastructure against emerging cyber threats.
Part of a pan-European quantum network
SAGA is a cornerstone of the broader European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI), a joint initiative led by ESA and the European Commission.
EuroQCI aims to create a continent-wide network linking terrestrial and space-based quantum communications.
This infrastructure will serve as a backbone for cybersecurity across vital sectors such as healthcare, energy, defence, and emergency response.
Officials describe EuroQCI as one of the main pillars of Europe’s future cybersecurity strategy, ensuring resilience in an era of growing digital dependence.
While previous ESA-led projects such as EAGLE-1 and QKDSat have focused on commercial applications of quantum communications, SAGA is designed for the protection of classified and critical data. This positions the mission as a vital tool for safeguarding national and public safety in Europe.
Thales Alenia Space CEO, Hervé Derrey, added: “I am very pleased that Thales Alenia Space will contribute to strengthening Europe’s technological independence by advancing optical and quantum technologies.
“By leveraging its longstanding expertise in secure space communications and cutting-edge quantum technologies, Thales Alenia Space is proud to collaborate with ESA and multiple European space agencies for a secure and resilient connectivity infrastructure that will benefit governments and citizens alike, paving the way for the future of commercial optical communications both in Europe and worldwide.”
Securing Europe’s quantum future
As the world faces escalating cyber challenges, Europe’s investment in quantum communications demonstrates a proactive approach to securing its digital future.
With SAGA moving into its design phase, the mission represents not only technological innovation but also a powerful statement of Europe’s commitment to digital sovereignty.
