New Ariane 6 Contract Strengthens Arianespace, GKN Aerospace Partnership
ArianeGroup Retains Supplier of Critical Components for Both Vulcain 2.1 and Vinci Engines
A new Frame Contract for the operational phase of Ariane 6 has been finalized between Ariane Group and GKN Aerospace, securing Europe’s access to space for years to come. Building on a partnership spanning over five decades, this is the first agreement between ArianeGroup and a major industrial partner as the new European launcher enters its industrial ramp-up.
"Signing this contract secures our future contribution to European space launch capability and reinforces our partnership with ArianeGroup."
Stefan Oscarsson, GKN Aerospace
The new agreement confirms GKN Aerospace’s continued deliveries to the Ariane 6 program throughout the launcher’s operational life, following its successful maiden flight in July 2024 and the first commercial mission in March 2025.
ArianeGroup, a French-German leader in space technology, secures several mission-critical components for the Ariane 6 launch vehicle supplied by GKN Aerospace, including:
LH₂ and LOX turbines for the first-stage Vulcain 2.1 engine
Nozzle extension for the Vulcain 2.1 engine
LH₂ and LOX turbines for the second-stage Vinci engine
"We are proud to continue our long-term collaboration within the Ariane program. Signing this contract secures our future contribution to European space launch capability and reinforces our partnership with ArianeGroup as we move forward with Ariane 6," said Stefan Oscarsson, SVP Engines, GKN Aerospace.
"This fruitful collaboration with a major industrial partner is an important step towards the Ariane 6 program. I would like to thank the teams at GKN Aerospace and ArianeGroup," said Stéphane Nogatchewsky, Chief Procurement Officer ArianeGroup. "This contract shows the progress in the negotiations with our partners for the exploitation phase and underscores our determination to make the Ariane 6 ramp-up a success."
These components have been developed in collaboration with ArianeGroup under a European Space Agency (ESA) program and are produced at GKN Aerospace’s engines center of excellence in Trollhättan, Sweden.
Ariane 6 is Europe’s next generation launch vehicle, ensuring independent access to space and offering an efficient, flexible solution for a wide range of institutional and commercial missions. It is launched from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.