Arianespace aims to significantly increase its launch rate for the Ariane 6 rocket, aiming for 10 launches annually. However, CEO David Cavaillolès acknowledges this is a substantial undertaking and achieving this cadence may take several years. During a Paris Air Show panel, Cavaillolès stated, “We need to go to 10 launches per year for Ariane 6 as soon as possible. It’s twice as more as for Ariane 5, so it’s a big industrial change.”
Two Ariane 6 launches have already occurred, with plans for four more by year's end, including the first Ariane 64 launch. While the goal is 10 launches per year, Cavaillolès emphasized a phased approach, stating, “Everybody is extremely motivated, but we want to do it step by step. First we have to deliver on ’25 and this is a big challenge, so we focus on that.” He anticipates a higher launch rate next year, but reaching the "cadence 10" goal might take a few years, with full capacity expected by 2029 alongside the IRIS² program deployment. "In ’29, when we start deploying IRIS², which is a milestone program, we’ll be more than for sure at cadence 10."
Significant contracts with Amazon for 18 Ariane 64 launches for Project Kuiper and the planned 13 launches for IRIS² in 2029 and 2030 contribute significantly to Arianespace's ambitious plans. The pressure is on to meet Amazon's regulatory deadlines. Cavaillolès highlighted the substantial backlog, stating, “It means that we have years and years of activity in front of us.” He also anticipates announcing further launch contracts shortly.
The demand for Arianespace's services is driven by both government and commercial clients. Cavaillolès observed, “We see a lot of states, a lot of space agencies, wanting to develop their own space infrastructure because they don’t want to rely on other people. For us, of course, this is an opportunity.” Commercial operators also seek diversification, as he explained, “the current situation, the dependency on one actor — the situation of, let’s say, hegemony — is a big threat to them. It’s absolutely unacceptable to rely on only one provider,” a clear allusion to SpaceX. "For this reason, they want us to succeed."
The Ariane 64's first launch is crucial, given its role in both the Kuiper and IRIS² programs. Martin Sion, CEO of ArianeGroup, commented, “We are preparing this launch based on the lessons learned from the Ariane 62 launch.” While Sion expects the launch within a few months, some speculate a delay into early 2026. Cavaillolès, however, remains committed to a pre-year-end launch, stating, “All the teams here and in Kourou, and everywhere in the supply chain are doing the maximum to make this happen.”