Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KONGSBERG) has signed a contract with ArianeGroup for the delivery of critical components for Europe’s next generation launch vehicle, Ariane 6. The agreement covers the supply of Optical Safety Barriers (OSB) and Upper Part Attachment (UPPA) mechanisms over the next three years.
The new contract extends the long-standing collaboration between KONGSBERG and ArianeGroup, a French-German leader in space technology. Ariane 6 plays a key role in securing Europe’s autonomous access to space. Following its successful inaugural flight in July 2024, it has performed two commercial missions in March and August 2025 and is currently in the ramp-up phase.
The new-generation launcher is designed to be modular, flexible and versatile, to meet the needs of institutional and commercial customers in the space market. The system offers a broad range of services tailored to all missions by offering flexible payload capacities and maximizing the efficiency of each launch. Development of Ariane 6 components began in 2016, and deliveries of OSB and UPPA units started in 2021. To date, 15 flight sets have been delivered, with production continuing under the new agreement.
“This agreement is a testament to the engineering excellence and teamwork that define KONGSBERG,” said Per-Erik Kristoffersen, Vice President Space & Surveillance at Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. “Ariane 6 is critical for Europe’s independent access to space at a time when the number of satellites and space assets is growing rapidly, enabling deployment of vital services such as secure communications, earth observation, and weather forecasting.”
Click here to learn more about Ariane Group's Ariane 6 Launch Vehicle Platform
