Two Agreements Mark a New Step for Ariane 6 and Vega-C Exploitation
Will Ensure Europe’s Access to Space From French Guiana
Two Launchers Exploitation Arrangements were signed recently at ESA Headquarters in Paris, marking an important step in the continued operation of Ariane 6 and Vega-C. Present were European Space Agency Director General Josef Aschbacher, Giulio Ranzo, Chief Executive Officer of Avio, David Cavaillolès, Chief Executive Officer of Arianespace and Martin Sion, Chief Executive Officer of ArianeGroup.
“We now have two launch service operators at Europe’s Spaceport, each responsible for their launcher.”
Josef Aschbacher, ESA
Following decisions taken by the ESA Council in 2023, the revision of the Launchers Exploitation Declaration (LED) was finalized on 10 July 2025 and the Guiana Space Center Agreement was signed on 23 October 2025.
These LEAs translate the LED mandate to ESA into concrete detailed implementation arrangements between ESA and the launch operators.
These two arrangements - one with Arianespace and ArianeGroup for Ariane 6, and one with Avio for Vega-C - define the roles and responsibilities of each operator and ESA’s role in monitoring its implementation. They also establish the framework for cooperation between the parties to ensure Europe’s continued autonomous access to space through the exploitation of ESA-developed launchers from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
“We now have two launch service operators at Europe’s Spaceport, each responsible for their launcher,” Aschbacher said. “This is just the start as the European launch services on offer (are) set to enlarge even more in the future with more actors and more choice, offering robust and diverse launch capabilities for Europe.”
“Today reaffirms Arianespace’s role in ensuring Europe’s autonomous access to space. Ariane 6 is the right heavy-lift solution for Europe, enabling us to deliver tailored launch services to our European customers and beyond,” Cavaillolès said. “After the first successful 3 commercial launches, we are now ramping up the Ariane 6 cadence at high speed to generate even more launch opportunities for our customers.”
“Avio is excited to assume the additional responsibilities for selling and operating the Vega launch service after almost 14 years since its inaugural flight in 2012 during which Avio acted as Vega’s Technical Authority and Industrial Prime Contractor,” Ranzo said. “We thank ESA for their extensive technical support and Arianespace for having established Vega as a successful launcher on the market.