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Airbus Safran Launchers in 2016 : We keep our promises !

Ariane News

23.01.2017

A record year for Ariane 5 Ariane 6 confirmed for a 1st flight in 2020 The Group’s organization finalized, with the takeover of Arianespace 2017 will be a year of consolidation for Ariane 6 with continued development and the kick-off of production and marketing, while at the same time making 7 Ariane 5 flights.

2016 was a fundamental year for Airbus Safran Launchers: the construction of the company was finalized on 1st July, with integration of all its personnel, activities and sites in France and Germany. On 31st December last, Arianespace joined the Airbus Safran Launchers group, becoming a 74% owned subsidiary following the buy-out of the CNES shares. This finalizes the organization of the Group, which now comprises 11 subsidiaries, joint-ventures and major stake holdings.

 

This year was marked by a series of exceptional successes:
  • With a total of 76 consecutive successful launches, achieved in December with the 7th launch of 2016, Ariane 5 broke Ariane 4’s record of 74 successful launches in a row. The launcher also broke a number of other records: performance, number of satellites placed in orbit and mission duration.
  • The Ariane 6 program passed two decisive milestones: confirmation of launcher maturity following the first design review last June and signing of the amendment to the initial contract with ESA, enabling the necessary funds to be committed to finalizing development and industrial production.

At the same time, Airbus Safran Launchers is actively continuing to prepare for the European launchers of tomorrow, in particular with the Prometheus® very low cost reusable engine project, which will make extensive use of 3D printing.

 

In the Defense field, all of the company’s goals were reached, in particular with the successful validation firing of an M51 strategic ballistic missile on July 1, 2016, from the “Le Triomphant” submarine. Through the development work it is conducting for the French defense procurement agency (DGA) Airbus Safran Launchers will continue to propose innovative and efficient solutions for the French Deterrent force.