Press Release SP 06/2015 R Kourou, 26 April 2015 Airbus Defence and Space: 64th successful launch in a row of Ariane 5 . Success demonstrates the exceptional reliability of the European heavy launcher for which Airbus Defence and Space has been the prime contractor since 2003 . First Ariane 5 launched since the creation of Airbus Safran Launchers Ariane 5 has been successfully launched from Kourou, French Guiana, for the 64th time in a row, once again confirming the reliability of the European launcher. This was the 222nd Ariane flight and the 78th Ariane 5 launch. “The history of the Ariane programme is closely linked to that of Airbus Defence and Space; the future of Ariane is therefore also inextricably linked to our company, and will continue to be via our subsidiary Airbus Safran Launchers,” said François Auque, Head of Space Systems. “The 64th successful launch in a row confirms the outstanding capabilities of our launcher teams and our ability to use our experience to implement the industrial organisation for future European launchers. Our aim is to continue being the architect of one of the greatest European industrial success stories.” Airbus Defence and Space is the single prime contractor for the European Ariane 5 launcher, one of the largest and most ambitious space programmes in the world, since 2003. As a 50% shareholder in Airbus Safran Launchers, the company currently oversees an industrial network that brings together more than 550 companies (more than 20% of which are SMEs) in 12 European countries. It also manages the entire industrial supply chain, from the manufacture of equipment and stages to the complete integration of the launcher in French Guiana, in line with the customer’s specifications. Drawing on the expertise Airbus Defence and Space has acquired and the investments it has made over a period of more than 10 years, Ariane 5 has become the most reliable commercial launcher on the global market and has increased its geostationary orbit payload capacity by almost two tonnes. Representing cutting-edge European expertise, the Ariane 5 launcher has been specially designed to inject heavy payloads into orbit. Airbus Defence and Space Airbus Defence and Space is a division of Airbus Group formed by combining the business activities of Cassidian, Astrium and Airbus Military. The new division is Europe’s number one defence and space enterprise, the second largest space business worldwide and among the top ten global defence enterprises. It employs more than 38,000 employees generating revenues of approximately €13 billion per year. Press Release Press contacts: Astrid Emerit + 33 1 39 06 89 43 [email protected] Jeremy Close + 44 14 38 77 38 72 [email protected] Gregory Gavroy + 33 1 39 06 89 42 [email protected] Ralph Heinrich + 49 89 607 33971 [email protected] Mathias Pikelj + 49 75 45 89 123 [email protected] Francisco Lechón + 34 91 586 37 41 [email protected] www.airbusdefenceandspace.com Page 2 of 2 .