Paris – Group Airbus and Safran finalized the establishment of their joint venture Airbus Safran Launchers (ASL), completion of the reorganization of the European space sector designed to increase its competitiveness to compete, including American, with in sight the upcoming Ariane 6.
“This last step materializes the culmination of major strategic initiative launched in 2014 to redefine the European launcher sector and better serve the strategic interests of french, German and European” , said the two groups in a joint statement.
“in addition to program management activities for civilian launchers and corresponding investments, already operational in ASL, this signing brings the resources, industrial resources, subsidiaries and investments corresponding to full extension of the scope of the company, “they added.
the joint venture, established in December 2014 with an initial workforce of 450 people, now has 8,400 employees from the two groups in France and Germany, with the flagship project the development of Ariane 6.
Operational from 1 July it was formalized at a meeting of Cospace, the Committee State-consultation on the space industry, in the presence of defense ministers, Jean-Yves Le Drian, Economy, Emmanuel Macron, and the Secretary of State for higher Education and Research, Thierry Mandon .
the meeting was also devoted to the preparation of the ministerial conference of the European Space Agency to be held in Lucerne (Switzerland) in December 2016.
“in an environment very competitive, I welcome the support of the necessary state to maintain our global leadership, “said Marwan Lahoud, head of the Airbus Group strategy, with particular reference to the American SpaceX, who seized of significant commercial market share in recent years.
“what is important is not just to have a completely autonomous and consistent industry,” added Philippe Petitcolin, head of Safran. “We now have 8,400 people who know exactly what to do, and I am very confident about the future of ASL.”
“EMERGENCE OF A TRUE LEADER EUROPEAN”
This step is also critical to the French Defense ASL then designs and builds the M51 ballistic missile. Creating ASL “addresses a critical need of sovereignty and will be a key player in the French nuclear deterrent,” has emphasized Jean-Yves Le Drian.
“With the emergence of a genuine European leader in space launch industry, France has a key asset to hold high our colors in the global competition that is played today. “
the creation of ASL comes with some months behind the original schedule, mainly because of tax issues related to the equalization payment that Safran was to pay Airbus Group through a 50/50 partnership. This amounts to 750 million euros.
When asked at a press conference, Emmanuel Macron said that this issue had “been set, otherwise it would not have to make the closing aujourd ‘hui “, without further details.
the alliance Airbus / Safran,” is primarily a strategic decision on the economic and industrial plan, “he continued, recalling that the prospects for the European space industry were undermined by the renewed from US competition.
as for the Ariane 6 calendar, the ASL boss Alain Charmeau confirmed that went as planned, while Ariane 6 is now entering its commercialization phase.
ASL announced mid-June it has completed the first of the future launcher design phase, which “confirms successfully maturity of the future European launcher first flight which is planned in 2020 “. According to Alain Charmeau, this allows ASL to engage “definitely in budgetary terms for the development and production of Ariane 6″.
The goal for Europeans is a 40 to 50% reduction launches costs compared to the current Ariane 5.
Another major step this year, the beginning of the marketing Ariane 6, so that eventually, the future launcher will perform a twenty flights by the end of 2023.
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