Final assembly of Ariane 6's Vinci upper stage engine to take place in Lampoldshausen
October 24, 2025 | DLR and ArianeGroup strengthen Lampoldshausen's status as a European centre of excellence for space propulsion
Final assembly of Ariane 6's Vinci upper stage engine to take place in Lampoldshausen
Final assembly of the Ariane upper stage Vinci engine will move to Lampoldshausen
ArianeGroup Germany will in future manufacture Vinci – the upper stage engine of the Ariane 6 launcher – in Lampoldshausen. DLR and ArianeGroup have jointly supported this move, and the agreement was signed in Lampoldshausen on 24 October 2025 by ArianeGroup Germany, ArianeGroup France and DLR. From left: Philippe Clar, Director Space Transportation Programs, ArianeGroup; Jens Franzeck, Chief Industrial Officer, ArianeGroup; Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, Chair of the DLR Executive Board; Pierre Godart, Chief Financial Officer, ArianeGroup; Walther Pelzer, Member of the DLR Executive Board and Director General of the German Space Agency at DLR; Toni Tolker-Nielsen, Director of Space Transportation, ESA.
Ariane 6 Vinci engine on the P4.1 test stand in Lampoldshausen
The Vinci upper stage engine of the Ariane 6 launcher will in future be manufactured in Lampoldshausen. Final assembly of the engine – the installation of individual parts such as turbopumps, valves and thrust chambers – will take place at the DLR location there. The photo shows the engine on the DLR Institute of Space Propulsion's P4.1 test stand, where final testing will be carried out. The corresponding agreement was signed on 24 October 2025.
Vinci, the upper stage engine of the Ariane 6 launcher, will in future be assembled in Lampoldshausen.
The corresponding agreement was signed on 24 October 2025.
This move was jointly championed by DLR and ArianeGroup.
Focus: Space transportation, access to space
Vinci, the upper stage engine of the Ariane 6 launcher, will in future be manufactured by ArianeGroup Germany in Lampoldshausen, where the final assembly of components such as turbopumps, valves and thrust chambers will take place at the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) site. Complete Vinci engines will then be tested for performance, reliability and flight readiness on the P4.1 test stand. DLR and ArianeGroup jointly advocated for this move and prepared the corresponding agreement. It was signed on 24 October 2025 in Lampoldshausen by ArianeGroup Germany, ArianeGroup France and DLR.
Consolidation of Vinci integration and testing
Following this move, all final production, system integration and flight acceptance tests of the Vinci engine are being relocated from Vernon in France to Germany. The installation of the engine into the upper stage of Ariane 6 will continue to take place in the German city of Bremen.
"The DLR site in Lampoldshausen is the European test centre for space propulsion systems – and therefore of central importance for Europe's independent access to space," emphasised DLR Executive Board Chair Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla. "With our unique infrastructure and the strong commitment of our teams, we are making a decisive contribution to the future of European space transportation. The close collaboration between DLR and ArianeGroup in Lampoldshausen demonstrates how knowledge exchange, technology transfer and industrial production intertwine. Together, we are working on the further development of this exceptional space location – and, in doing so, strengthening not only Germany's role in space but also Europe's."
"We have every reason to be pleased," said Walther Pelzer, member of the DLR Executive Board and Director General of the German Space Agency at DLR. "This agreement is the starting point for the seamless integration and testing of Vinci. It is a strong affirmation of Germany's status as a hub for advanced technology. Besides safeguarding highly skilled jobs, we are reinforcing our technological sovereignty. Vinci is a key driver for Europe's access to space and will accelerate our power to innovate."
Jens Franzeck, Chief Industrial Officer of ArianeGroup, said: "The Vinci engine is a fantastic example of ArianeGroup's Franco-German DNA. Whilst the engine design and major technological components come from Vernon in Normandy, the development and production of the thrust chambers take place at our competence centre in Ottobrunn, near Munich. The integration of the Vinci engines in Lampoldshausen shows our sound cooperation with DLR and the European Space Agency (ESA) and highlights our dedication to a sovereign, united Europe in the space domain."
The Vinci upper stage engine
Germany has contributed around €800 million to the development of the Ariane 6 launcher. The German Space Agency at DLR coordinates this German part of the ESA budget.
The Vinci engine plays a decisive role in the performance of the Ariane 6 upper stage, built in Bremen. The upper stage boasts a lengthy lifespan, the possibility to ignite the engine multiple times and the use of the most efficient fuel combination of liquid hydrogen and oxygen. As a result, the Ariane 6 can fly a wide range of mission types while also transporting multiple payloads on a single launch.
European competence centre for space propulsion
The DLR site in Lampoldshausen serves as the European hub for space propulsion systems, making it a crucial location for Europe's independent access to space. For over six decades, this DLR centre has been operating unique test benches and facilities for liquid propellant rocket engines – from the initial research stage all the way to flight qualification. As an outstanding example of what this site is capable of, the Vinci upper stage engine of the Ariane 6 was qualified on the P4.1 test stand in Lampoldshausen under simulated altitude conditions before Ariane 6's inaugural flight – expertise that is unique in Europe. With final assembly and sign-off tests for the Vinci now to take place in Lampoldshausen, development, integration and testing will be further consolidated. This move bolsters the site's role as both a core testing and development centre for Europe's space propulsion capabilities and a strategic component of European space infrastructure.
