Ariane 5

RUAG Space has won a major payload fairing contract from satellite launch company Arianespace.

The contract was signed in Zurich by Arianespace chairman and CEO Stéphane Israël, and RUAG Space Switzerland senior vice-president Holger Wentscher.

The deal is worth more than CHF100m ($112.25m) and covers the provision of Ariane 5 payload fairings through 2019.

The payload fairing, mounted on the nose of the launch vehicle, is designed to protect satellites on the launch pad and during the initial trajectory through Earth’s atmosphere.

RUAG Space has been associated with the European launcher programme since the beginning, starting with the first liftoff in December 1979, all 217 Ariane rockets launched to date have featured RUAG fairings

Holger Wentscher said that payload fairings are an important source of revenue for RUAG Space, which is why this contract is so vital.

"Today’s contract marks a major milestone in a successful partnership that stretches back 35 years," Wentscher said.

Arianespace Chairman and CEO Stéphane Israël said: "With this latest order, we have now secured our supply of fairings for the Ariane 5 ECA launcher through 2019. For all of our customers, the quality and reliability of these fairings mean that the RUAG name is synonymous with excellence."

RUAG Space is a leading supplier of payload fairings made of composite materials.

In addition to Ariane 5, Europe’s small launcher, Vega, and the American launcher, Atlas V-500, also use fairings supplied by RUAG Space.

Image: Ariane 5 (maquette). Photo: courtesy of Philippe Semanaz.