Arianespace has expressed its commitment to accelerate the launch rate of the Ariane 6 rocket, aiming for a target of 10 launches per year in the near future, although the timeline for this goal may extend over several years.
During a recent panel discussion at the Paris Air Show, Arianespace CEO David Cavaillolès articulated the company’s ambition to ramp up operations significantly from the previous Ariane 5 program.
“We need to go to 10 launches per year for Ariane 6 as soon as possible,” he stated, underscoring the drastic industrial change involved in achieving double the output.
Arianespace has successfully conducted two launches of the Ariane 6 to date, with its inaugural launch in July and a second in March that successfully placed a French reconnaissance satellite into orbit.
Cavaillolès confirmed intentions to complete four additional launches of the Ariane 6 by the end of this year, including the debut of the more powerful Ariane 64 variant, which utilizes four solid-rocket boosters.
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding these plans, Cavaillolès refrained from providing a precise timeline for reaching the target of 10 launches per year, opting instead for a gradual approach.
“Everybody is extremely motivated, but we want to do it step by step,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of first delivering on the near-term goals for 2025. He acknowledged the challenges involved but remained optimistic about the company’s trajectory.
“Next year, of course, we will do more,” he added, while cautioning that it might take a few years to hit the desired launch cadence. Cavaillolès highlighted that by 2029, coinciding with the deployment of IRIS², the company expects to exceed 10 launches annually.
Looking ahead, Arianespace forecasts conducting 13 Ariane 64 launches during 2029 and 2030 specifically for IRIS², the European initiative aimed at broadband secure connectivity.
Meanwhile, the company also holds a substantial contract with Amazon for 18 Ariane 64 launches related to its Project Kuiper broadband satellites.
Given Amazon’s pressing regulatory deadlines for launching its satellite constellation, Arianespace is facing pressure to enhance the Ariane 6 launch rate sooner rather than later.
Amazon is currently the largest customer in Arianespace’s Ariane 6 backlog, which encompasses over 30 planned launches. Cavaillolès remarked, “It means that we have years and years of activity in front of us,” regarding the robust backlog of launches, and indicated that more agreements would likely be announced in the upcoming weeks.
The heightened interest in Ariane 6 is not restricted to commercial enterprises; numerous government entities and space agencies are also eager to establish their own space infrastructures to reduce dependency on singular service providers.
Cavaillolès pointed out, “For us, of course, this is an opportunity,” as commercial operators express concerns over their reliance on a single player in the market, thought to be a reference to SpaceX.
Thus, the forthcoming Ariane 64 launch holds significant importance for Arianespace, as it will serve dual purposes for both the Kuiper project and the IRIS² initiative.
ArianeGroup CEO Martin Sion indicated that preparations for the first Ariane 64 launch are underway, leveraging insights gained from the earlier Ariane 62 launch, with expectations set for a launch within a few months.
However, some industry insiders have indicated that the event could be delayed until early 2026.
In response, Cavaillolès reaffirmed his commitment to achieving the inaugural Ariane 64 launch by the end of this year, emphasizing that all teams across the supply chain are diligently working towards this milestone.
image source from：spacenews
