ArianeGroup

A boost for Europe’s space champion in Germany

ArianeGroup, a Franco-German venture, is Europe’s guarantee for its independent access to space and a champion, hallmark and frontrunner in building rockets, missiles, engines, launch systems and space technologies. It is driving major innovations in rocket manufacturing, propulsion, reusability, and targeted multi-orbit deliveries. Its new flagship, Ariane 6, was successfully launched in July 2024 and has been contracted for a variety of renowned institutional and commercial customers around the world.

ArianeGroup is an industrial company delivering critical missions for the space and defence sectors. With 8,300 highly qualified employees in France and Germany, ArianeGroup has unique expertise in access to space, covering the full spectrum of civil and military launch systems, including design, development, manufacturing, integration, flight preparation, operational readiness and end-of-life decommissioning. ArianeGroup is lead contractor for the Ariane 6 European launcher for the European Space Agency (ESA), and for the French oceanic deterrent force M51 strategic missile for the French Defence Armament Procurement Agency (DGA).

ArianeGroup first mandated waveL in 2021 to support its German media outreach, develop narratives and messages, create a steady and consistent news flow, and provide strategic and tactical advice in Communications and PR.

We help brief general and specialised media on various strategic topics for ArianeGroup and its affiliates Arianespace and MaiaSpace, including the progress and launches of Ariane 6 and Vega C from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, the role of Germany and the German sites in Bremen, Ottobrunn and Lampoldshausen in R&D, manufacturing and testing, the Group’s role in industrial innovation such as hydrogen, carbon fibre and 3D printing, its contribution to European programs like Prometheus and Themis, its innovation in transport, with the sail-assisted rocket cargo vessel Canopée, as well as its contribution to human spaceflight and Moon missions.

Ariane 6 was developed by ArianeGroup under a European Space Agency (ESA) programme and provides an efficient answer to the growing needs and diversified missions of Arianespace’s institutional and commercial customers. It is powerful, highly versatile, modular, and draws on the experience of Ariane 5 to guarantee reliability and precision. Its optimised industrialisation process is designed to allow high production rates and offer customers optimum efficiency. The procurement chain managed by ArianeGroup involves more than 600 companies of all sizes in 13 European countries.

The Maia rocket is Europe’s first reusable and eco-responsible mini-launcher. It has been developed by MaiaSpace, an ArianeGroup subsidiary, and will offer highly competitive space mobility options and help to speed up the acquisition and extension of reuse technologies in Europe.

Another element of waveL’s ongoing campaign for ArianeGroup in Germany is to showcase its unique end-to-end expertise in space propulsion systems, thermal protection products

and energetic materials for launchers today and tomorrow. Its expertise in state-of-the-art technologies ranges from the chemistry of propellants and composite materials to liquid, solid and electric space propulsion systems. It also offers a broad range of space, defence and industrial equipment and services, both individually and together with its subsidiaries Sodern, Pyroalliance, Nuclétudes and APP. ArianeGroup is equally owned by the aerospace groups Airbus and Safran and posted consolidated revenues of €2.3 billion in 2023.

Client results

Consistent and targeted news flow in German language

Extensive media network on local, regional and national level

Conferences and trade shows, media roundtables and briefings

Support for visits of company sites and launch events