This is the best summary I could come up with:
Earlier this summer, Politico reported that the European Commission was looking abroad for a launcher for the Galileo satellites, though at the time United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan system was also under consideration.
SpaceX signed the agreement with ESA for two Falcon 9 launches in 2024, each carrying two “Galileo” navigation satellites.
The deal is pending final approval from the European Commission and EU member states, which will likely happen before the year is out, according to WSJ reporting.
Europe would have preferred to use one of its own rockets – like the long-delayed Ariane 6 or Vega-C – but was essentially forced to look farther afield due to the technical hold ups in these rocket development programs.
Soyuz, Russia’s workhorse rocket, is also off the table due to that country’s ongoing war with Ukraine.
The satellites, which contain classified equipment, are capable of beaming encrypted navigation communications for European military.
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