Amazon Leo is expanding its launch partnership with Arianespace by adding six Ariane 6 launches, increasing its total contracted launch commitment with the European launch provider from 18 to 24 missions.
The expanded agreement extends what Amazon described as the largest commercial contract in Arianespace’s history and provides additional launch capacity as Amazon builds out its satellite broadband constellation.
Amazon initially signed with Arianespace in 2022 as part of a broader group of contracts securing more than 80 launches for its satellite network.
Arianespace completed its first Amazon Leo mission earlier in 2026 and has since placed 100 Amazon Leo satellites into orbit across three missions in less than five months.
The most recent mission, Leo Europe 3, deployed 36 satellites using upgraded P160C solid rocket boosters developed by ArianeGroup.
Amazon said the flight represented its largest Amazon Leo mission to date and the heaviest commercial payload ever launched on any rocket.
The upgraded boosters increase Ariane 6 payload capacity by as much as two metric tons.
Amazon Leo and Arianespace engineering teams are also working together on additional vehicle improvements intended to increase the number of satellites that can be deployed during each launch as the constellation grows.
Ariane 6 launches from French Guiana, but its supply chain extends across 13 European countries and more than 600 companies.
Amazon Leo has become Arianespace’s largest individual customer.
Oxford Economics estimates that spending associated with the Amazon Leo partnership will contribute €2.8 billion to European Union GDP and support an average of 3,270 jobs annually through 2029.
The additional missions provide Amazon with more capacity as it scales its satellite network and give Arianespace additional long-term demand as it increases Ariane 6 launch activity for commercial and institutional customers.
KEY QUOTES:
“Europe isn’t just a region we are going to serve. Europe’s launch infrastructure is part of the operational architecture of the Amazon Leo constellation.”
Chris Weber, Vice President of Amazon Leo Business and Product
“These six additional launches demonstrate Amazon Leo’s confidence in the performance and reliability of Ariane 6, as well as in the expertise of our teams.”
David Cavaillolès, CEO of Arianespace
