The European Commission and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) will entrust Arianespace with the launch of four new satellites for the Galileo navigation constellation. This order brings to five the total number of launches scheduled onboard Ariane 6 for Europe’s ultra-high performance Galileo satellite navigation system: the last three launches of pairs of first-generation satellites (L14-L15-L16) and the first two pairs of the second generation (L17-L18).

These two additional launches are scheduled in 2026 and 2027 and will carry the first four second-generation Galileo satellites in pairs. Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space are each building six satellites, which together will form the first second-generation fleet. The satellites, each weighing about 2,000 kg and equipped with electrical propulsion, will then reach the Galileo constellation’s operational orbit (at an altitude of 23,222 km).

As the first joint infrastructure produced and financed by the European Union, which is also the owner, the European Commission has overall responsibility for the program. It contains innovative technologies developed by Europe for the citizens of the entire world. Galileo's design and system evolution, along with the technical development of its infrastructure, are entrusted to ESA. The European Commission has delegated the operational management of the Galileo program to the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), which is responsible for the deployment, maintenance, and minor evolutions of the Galileo system. EUSPA also ensures that Galileo services are delivered with the defined performance and without interruption.”

“I would like to thank the European Commission and EUSPA for once again demonstrating their trust in Arianespace for the deployment of their satellite-based global navigation system. Ariane 6 is reaching the final milestones leading up to its first flight this summer, which enables us to envisage the resumption of deployment of the Galileo constellation from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana in 2025. In this context, the decision by the European Commission and EUSPA is a strong commitment to Europe’s future heavy launcher. Arianespace reaffirms its commitment to guaranteeing reliable and sovereign access to space for Europe”, said Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace.

Click here to learn more about the Galileo EU Space program.