In Les Mureaux, France, ArianeGroup and Airbus Defence and Space in Spain solidified their long-standing partnership by signing a pivotal supply contract for the operational phase of the Ariane 6 launcher. The agreement is a critical component of Europe’s strategy to ramp up the production rate of its heavy-lift rocket.
The contract details the delivery of 27 shipsets, which include large, lightweight carbon fibre structures essential for the launcher’s architecture. Specifically, Airbus Defence and Space will manufacture the interface structures for both the main and upper stages, the adapters for the upper stage (available in standard and heavy versions), and the upper segments for all Ariane 6 boosters.
This deal reinforces European industrial cooperation, triggering activity across key production sites in Bremen, Les Mureaux, and Kourou. ArianeGroup’s Chief Procurement Officer, Anne Quillon, emphasized the contract’s importance, stating it secures a robust production ramp-up and guarantees Europe’s autonomous access to space. She praised the teams for their commitment to quality and innovation. Raquel González Sola, Head of Airbus Space Systems in Spain, echoed this sentiment, noting that the agreement deepens Airbus’s commitment to European space access by providing the advanced carbon fibre technology needed to make Ariane 6 a global benchmark for reliability and efficiency.
