At the 45th Paris Air Show,
ARIANESPACE CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall and Josef Kind and Herve Guillou,
respectively President and CEO of EADS SPACE TRANSPORTATION, signed an “order
letter” to initiate production of the “PA batch” of 30 Ariane 5 launchers.
This new commitment will allow ARIANESPACE to ensure its launch service
continuity.
EADS SPACE TRANSPORTATION’s efforts to enhance productivity, which are
reflected in this order and are backed by its European industry partners and
ARIANESPACE, will improve the competitiveness of the Ariane launcher for the
benefit of its clients.
This agreement officializes the new industrial tasking between the two
companies, which was approved at the ESA ministerial-level meeting on May 27.
EADS SPACE TRANSPORTATION is now the sole prime contractor for the Ariane
5 launcher. As a result, the company will manage the totality of contracts
covering launch vehicle production, and is to deliver a standardized launcher
to ARIANESPACE in French Guiana.
ARIANESPACE is in charge of the commercial launch service operation, and
manages the production. The company will source the launcher from the prime
contractor, adapt it to customer mission requirements, and carry out launch
operations at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
