Astrium, Arianespace Sign Contract To Produce 18 More Ariane 5 Launchers

Astrium and Arianespace signed a joint agreement on the production of 18 additional Ariane 5 ECA launchers.

As part of this agreement, Arianespace has ordered from Astrium, long-lead items and the start of production activities for the 18 additional launchers. These items and the first production activities are valued at more than 400 million euros.

Astrium and Arianespace plan to sign the full production contract for the additional launchers before the end of 2013.

These additional 18 Ariane 5s should be launched from 2017 onwards, following on from the 35 launchers ordered in 2009

“This agreement enables Astrium, which has been prime contractor for Ariane 5 since 2003, to ensure the continuity of production beyond 2017,” explained Alain Charmeau, CEO of Astrium Space Transportation. “It also guarantees the continuity of the entire industrial production chain which comprises 550 companies (of which 20% are SMEs) and 6,000 people across 12 European countries.”

This order takes the number of Ariane 5 launchers in production for Arianespace to 38, and guarantees the continued provision of launch services for the European operator’s customers at the Guiana Space Centre through to the end of the decade.