ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus and Safran, is a key industrial player in the European space sector, specializing in the development and manufacture of civil and military space launchers. As the prime contractor for the Ariane 6 launcher, it provides propulsion systems, equipment, and services for space vehicles and satellites. The company also develops future space transportation solutions and is involved in defense systems, including the French oceanic deterrent force M51 strategic missile.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
ArianeGroup was awarded a follow-on contract on 6 February to continue development of Greta, with a full engine demonstrator expected to be tested at the end of 2027.
On 25 February, ArianeGroup completed a months-long test campaign of its Greta rocket engine and secured a European Space Agency contract to continue Greta development.
Greta is an evolution of the Berta rocket engine developed by ArianeGroup under an ESA Future Launchers Preparatory Programme contract.
ArianeGroup conducted a hot-fire test campaign of the Greta engine from July to November 2025 at its facilities in Trauen, Germany.
The European Space Agency and prime contractor ArianeGroup are preparing for the first low-altitude hop test of the Themis reusable launcher demonstrator, currently scheduled for the second quarter of 2026.
In late 2024, ESA awarded ArianeGroup an additional €230 million to accelerate development of the T1E (Evolution) variant and the T3 (3-engine) variant.
The Kourou launchpad was awarded to the French start-up MaiaSpace, a subsidiary of ArianeGroup.
ESA awarded ArianeGroup €230 million across two contracts in November 2024 for additional Themis T1E testing.
ArianeGroup is the customer for the Canopée vessel as prime contractor of the Ariane 6 program.
ArianeGroup's head of launchers, Philippe Clar, indicated that successful early flights could help build market confidence for the European launcher sector.
ArianeGroup acts as prime contractor and design authority for Ariane 6.
The P160C motor was developed jointly by ArianeGroup and Avio through the Europropulsion joint venture.
The European Space Agency collaborates with an industrial network across 13 European countries for the development of Ariane 6 led by prime contractor ArianeGroup.
ArianeGroup’s subscription of new shares made Arianespace a wholly owned subsidiary of ArianeGroup.
ArianeGroup was entrusted by the European Space Agency to design and integrate the Ariane 6 launcher.
ArianeGroup is developing evolutions of the Ariane 6 intended to increase the launcher’s payload capacity.
Arianespace immediately completed a €200,020,000 capital increase through issuance of 10,001 new shares fully subscribed by ArianeGroup.
ArianeGroup Germany will assemble the Vinci engine in Lampoldshausen in the future.
The Ariane 6 upper stage is developed and manufactured by ArianeGroup in Bremen as ESA’s prime contractor.
ArianeGroup is shifting full end production, system integration, and flight acceptance testing from Vernon, France to Germany.