ArianeGroup Awards Beyond Gravity Record Contract for Ariane 6 Composite Payload Fairings
BY Composights
Published: 10 Jul 2026
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ArianeGroup has signed a long-term agreement with Beyond Gravity for the supply of 27 composite payload fairings for the Ariane 6 launch vehicle, strengthening Europe's launch infrastructure and supporting the program's planned increase in launch frequency over the coming years.
The agreement covers payload fairings for Ariane 6 flight models 16 through 42, providing long-term production visibility as the launcher transitions into its operational phase. Manufacturing under the new contract is scheduled to begin at the end of 2026.
Under the order, Beyond Gravity will manufacture 20 long fairings measuring 20 meters and seven short fairings measuring 14 meters. The two fairing configurations enable Ariane 6 to accommodate a broad range of commercial, institutional, and scientific payloads while relying on a common design platform that simplifies mission adaptation across different launch profiles.
According to the companies, the agreement represents the largest contract ever awarded to Beyond Gravity's Swiss launch vehicle business. The production program will support Ariane 6's industrial ramp-up as Europe targets an operational launch cadence of nine to ten missions annually.
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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, said Christophe Bruneau, Chief Executive Officer of ArianeGroup.
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, said Barbara Frei-Spreiter, Chief Executive Officer of Beyond Gravity.
Composite payload fairings play a critical role in protecting satellites and spacecraft during ascent while minimizing launch mass. Their lightweight construction enables launch providers to maximize payload capacity without compromising structural integrity under the demanding aerodynamic and thermal conditions encountered during launch.
The latest agreement highlights the growing importance of advanced composite structures in next-generation launch systems as European industry continues to expand manufacturing capacity to support higher launch rates and independent access to space.
Source: ArianeGroup | News
