ArianeGroup and Beyond Gravity sign major contract securing the long-term supply of Ariane 6 payload fairings

ArianeGroup and Beyond Gravity have signed a new contract for the operational phase of Ariane 6, securing Europe’s access to space for years to come. The agreement covers the supply of 27 payload fairings for the flight models 16 to 42 of Ariane 6.

ArianeGroup, a French-German leader in space technology, is prime contractor for Ariane 6. Following the successful completion of its initial flights, ArianeGroup is currently increasing the Ariane 6 production rate.

Beyond Gravity, a leading international space supplier headquartered in Switzerland with 12 locations in six countries, has been producing payload fairings for every Ariane mission since the first flight of Ariane 1 in 1979. Beyond Gravity is also playing an important role in the Ariane 6 program.

Depending on the mission, the European heavy-launcher can be equipped with a short (14-meter) or long (20-meter) payload fairing. This allows Ariane 6 to adapt to a wide variety of payloads. Instead of maintaining a separate system for each mission type, a common technical platform covers the entire spectrum.

The new contract for the operational phase starts at the end of 2026 and marks the largest to date in the history of Beyond Gravity’s Swiss launch vehicle business. By producing 20 long and seven short payload fairings, the company is making a key contribution to the industrial ramp-up of the Ariane 6 program and to the planned launch cadence of nine to ten missions per year.

Christophe Bruneau, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ArianeGroup, said: “We are thrilled to continue our fruitful collaboration with Beyond Gravity. The agreement underscores that cooperation is key to ensure a competitive and autonomous European access to space. As the Ariane 6 ramp-up is in full swing, we now have long-term visibility on the supply of payload fairings for the operational phase of Europe’s heavy-launcher that has demonstrated its reliability and performance with eight successful flights since July 2024.”

Barbara Frei-Spreiter, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Beyond Gravity, said: “This record-breaking order marks an important milestone for Beyond Gravity and for Europe’s space industry as a whole. We are delighted to actively help shape the ramp-up of the Ariane 6 launch vehicle program by supplying key technologies and to continue our long-standing partnership with ArianeGroup and the ESA. With our ability to mass-produce highly complex launch vehicle structures to the highest quality standards, we are making a key contribution to the competitiveness of the European space industry.”  

About ArianeGroup

ArianeGroup is an industrial company delivering critical missions for the space and defence sectors. With 8,700 highly qualified employees in France and Germany, ArianeGroup has unique expertise in access to space, covering the full spectrum of civil and military launch systems, including design, development, manufacturing, integration, flight preparation, operational readiness and end-of-life decommissioning. ArianeGroup is lead contractor for the Ariane 6 European launcher for the European Space Agency (ESA), and for the French oceanic deterrent force M51 strategic missile for the French Defence Armament Procurement Agency (DGA).

Internationally recognised for its innovative, competitive solutions, ArianeGroup has expertise in state-of-the-art technologies, from the chemistry of propellants and composite materials, to liquid, solid and electric space propulsion systems. ArianeGroup also offers a broad range of space, defence and industrial equipment and services, both individually and together with its subsidiaries Sodern, Pyroalliance, Nuclétudes and APP.
In the field of space launchers, ArianeGroup’s subsidiary Arianespace markets Ariane 6, and its subsidiary MaiaSpace develops and markets the reusable launcher Maia.

ArianeGroup, equally owned by Airbus and Safran, posted consolidated revenues of €2.6 billion in 2025.

About Beyond Gravity

Beyond Gravity, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, is the first space company to combine a startup mindset, agility, speed and innovation with decades of experience and proven quality. Approximately 1900 employees at 12 locations in six countries (Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, USA, Finland and Portugal) develop and produce solutions for satellites and launch vehicles with the goal of advancing humankind and enabling the exploration of the world and beyond. Beyond Gravity is the preferred supplier of structures for all types of launch vehicles and a leading provider of selected satellite products and constellation solutions in the New Space sector. In 2025, the company generated a revenue of around CHF 402 million. More information at: www.beyondgravity.com