Space

Three Billion Euros Contract For 30 Ariane 5 Launchers

ARIANESPACE and EADS SPACE Transportation signed at Berlin the contract of 30 Ariane 5 launch vehicles.

The value of this order is about 3bn Euros.

Berlin, 10 May 2004

At the Berlin Airshow, in the presence of the German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and the French Minister of Research François d' Aubert, Jean-Yves Le Gall, CEO of ARIANESPACE, Josef Kind and Hervé Guillou, respectively President and CEO of EADS SPACE Transportation, signed the contract for the production of 30 Ariane 5 launchers. Were also present at this ceremony: Jean-Jacques Dordain, General Director of ESA, Jean-Marie Luton, Chairman of the Board of ARIANESPACE, the CEOs of the EADS Group Rainer Hertrich and Philippe Camus, as well as the CEO of EADS SPACE François Auque.

This contract, called “PA batch”, will allow ARIANESPACE to ensure its launch service continuity, to enhance its performance and competitiveness on the international launcher market. The first Ariane 5 of the PA batch will be launched in 2005. This batch will mainly consist of a configuration of standardised launchers Ariane 5 ECA. Besides this Ariane 5 version, the PA batch will also include Ariane 5 ES for the launches of the ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle).

The contract signature of the PA batch is the implementation of the new role of EADS SPACE Transportation as single prime contractor of the Ariane 5 system. Its commitment is to deliver an integrated launcher to ARIANESPACE in French Guiana. This means that the company manages from now the whole range of relations and contracts with the subcontractors covering launch vehicle production.

ARIANESPACE is in charge of the commercial launch service operation. As “prime customer” (maître d’ouvrage), the company will source the launcher from the prime contractor, adapt it to the customer mission requirements, integrates the satellites and carries out launch operations at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Contacts
Arianespace
France
Tel.: +33.1.60.87.63.07/60.15

EADS SPACE Transportation
France:
Tel.: +33.1.39.06.14.50

EADS SPACE Transportation
Germany:
Tel.: +49.421.539.5710