ArianeGroup and GKN Aerospace strengthen partnership with new Ariane 6 contract

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  Agreement reinforces a decades-long partnership that plays a key role in securing Europe's independent access to space

• Frame Contract secures GKN Aerospace's role in exploitation phase – the operational launch phase - of Ariane 6

• ArianeGroup retains supplier of critical components for both Vulcain 2.1 and Vinci engines for the industrial ramp-up of Ariane 6

ArianeGroup and GKN Aerospace have signed a new Frame Contract for the operational phase of Ariane 6, securing Europe's access to space for years to come and building on a partnership spanning over five decades. It is the first agreement between ArianeGroup and a major industrial partner as the new European launcher enters its industrial ramp-up.

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

These components have been developed in collaboration with ArianeGroup under a European Space Agency (ESA) programme and are produced at GKN Aerospace's engines centre 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 Centre in Kourou, French Guiana.

Stéphane Nogatchewsky, Chief Procurement Officer at ArianeGroup, said: “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. 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.”

Stefan Oscarsson, Senior Vice President Engines, said: "We are proud to continue our role in the Ariane programme — a collaboration that spans over five decades. 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."

Building on its Volvo Aero heritage, GKN Aerospace has been a trusted partner in the Ariane programme since its inception. This new contract marks the next chapter in a long-standing collaboration, focused on innovation, reliability, and ensuring Europe's independent access to space.