Amazon Leo added six Ariane 6 launches to its agreement with Arianespace, increasing its total commitment from 18 to 24 launches as of September 10, 2026. The expansion follows three Arianespace missions that delivered 100 Amazon Leo satellites to orbit in less than five months.
Amazon first signed with Arianespace in 2022 as part of agreements securing more than 80 launches. The company now says it has secured more than 100 launches across multiple launch vehicles for Amazon Leo, its low Earth orbit satellite network. Amazon describes the expanded Arianespace agreement as an extension of the largest commercial contract in the launch provider’s history.
The latest Arianespace mission, Leo Europe 3, deployed 36 satellites with upgraded P160C solid boosters developed by ArianeGroup. According to Amazon, it was the largest Amazon Leo mission to date and the heaviest commercial payload launched on any rocket. The boosters increase Ariane 6 payload capacity by up to two metric tons, while engineering teams from Amazon Leo and Arianespace are working on vehicle upgrades intended to raise the number of satellites carried on each launch.
Ariane 6 is assembled and launched from French Guiana, with a supply chain spanning 13 European countries and more than 600 companies. Amazon Leo is Arianespace’s largest single customer. Oxford Economics estimates that EU spending associated with the agreement will contribute €2.8 billion to gross domestic product and support an average of 3,270 jobs annually through 2029.
“Expanding from 18 to 24 launches reflects our confidence in Ariane 6 and our continued investment in European launch capability,” said Chris Weber, vice president of Amazon Leo business and product.
Arianespace CEO David Cavaillolès said long-term customer commitments support the production ramp-up of Ariane 6 and strengthen the company’s business model, while increasing its capacity to serve commercial and institutional customers. He said the additional launches demonstrate Amazon Leo’s confidence in Ariane 6 and Arianespace’s teams.
Amazon Leo has completed 14 missions since full-scale deployment began in April 2025, placing nearly 400 satellites into orbit and becoming the third-largest satellite constellation in operation, according to Amazon. The company says the network is designed to provide internet service beyond the reach of existing networks. It is preparing for an initial service rollout in 2026, followed by broader global expansion as coverage and capacity increase.