A New Era for European Defence and Space

Credit: Håkan Dahlström

In September 2024, ArianeGroup made a relatively small update to its website. One of the most significant elements of this update was a focus on its defence offering. Previously, the section only included information about the company’s M51 intercontinental missile system. However, it now also features the V-MAX hypersonic glider programme and the Helix multi-orbit space surveillance service, which it describes as "Europe’s first private space surveillance network." This change is calculated.

French news agency Challenges recently revealed that 2024 saw ArianeGroup return to profitability with a modest net profit of €2 million (total revenues of €2.5 billion), up from €19 million in the red in 2023. The report cited the M51 programme as a key contributor to this rebound, with France's Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) investing nearly €870 million in the M51 programme in 2024. Additionally, the report stated its defence arm would likely see an additional boo…