A joint-venture between OneWeb Satellites and Airbus Defence and Space aims to build an estimated US$85 million automated facility in Florida to manufacture nearly 900 satellites in Toulouse, France. Series production will be tested there on a prototype assembly line.

OneWeb Satellites has chosen Florida in the U.S. as the site for its final assembly line, completing the last step in its industrial organisation.

The design of the satellites is currently under way in the company’s design offices in Toulouse. The space segment of OneWeb will comprise initially a constellation of 648 operational satellites and replacement satellites, all of which will be identical. Each satellite will weigh approximately 150 kg and will operate in low Earth orbit.