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ArianeGroup, the French producer behind the Ariane 6 launch vehicle and the M51 submarine-based ballistic missile, is evaluating the option of producing ballistic missiles in Germany, according to CEO Christophe Bruneau in remarks published by Les Echos.
Bruneau emphasized that he remains strongly committed to cooperation between France and Germany, despite difficulties surrounding joint projects such as next-generation fighter aircraft and future battle tank programs. Speaking in a joint interview with Les Echos and Handelsblatt, he noted that ArianeGroup’s French-German structure positions the company to deliver collaborative defense solutions for both nations. Before taking over as CEO in April, Bruneau led the military engines division at Safran. ArianeGroup itself is jointly owned by Airbus and Safran.
Bruneau stated that European nations increasingly see the need for conventional long-range ballistic missile capabilities due to the growing scale of global conflicts. France has already allocated €1 billion (around US$1.2 billion) toward the development of a land-based missile system capable of reaching targets up to 2,500 kilometers away. While the official timeline aims for deployment by 2035, France’s defense procurement agency is reportedly pushing to move the schedule closer to 2030.
In October, France introduced an upgraded version of the M51, which forms part of the country’s sea-based nuclear deterrent. ArianeGroup oversees both the missile’s design and propulsion systems.
Bruneau said the company is prepared to meet the needs of both French and German political and military leaders and has already opened discussions with both governments. He added that expanding German participation within ArianeGroup is one of his objectives, although German ownership in the company is not currently being considered.
The CEO also discussed the company’s space-launch ambitions. ArianeGroup expects launch slots for Ariane 6 to remain available from 2028 onward and plans to increase launches to seven or eight missions this year before eventually reaching 10 annually. Each mission will be capable of placing more than 30 satellites into low-Earth orbit. According to Bruneau, Ariane 6 is essential for maintaining Europe’s independent access to space, particularly for military satellite deployment.
