In the days leading up to the Paris International Space Summit, leaders from ArianeGroup, Arianespace, and MaiaSpace shared updates on the progress of the Ariane 6 rocket and announced a series of new contracts. The press conference took place on Monday, just before the summit, which will begin in Paris on Wednesday. Christophe Bruneau, head of ArianeGroup, David Cavaillolès of Arianespace, and Yohann Leroy of MaiaSpace highlighted the success of 2026, including a recent achievement where Ariane 6 placed a satellite in geostationary orbit—a significant milestone for the European space industry. Bruneau emphasized that the Paris summit, scheduled for September 9 and 10, is a historic event, as it will bring together the entire European and international space sector for the first time. He noted that the space industry is now a key player in major economic, industrial, and political decisions across Europe, with strong government support. ArianeGroup, a "dual" company, not only builds rockets but also plays a critical role in France’s defense, including the development of a conventional ballistic missile with a range of 800 to 2,500 kilometers. Bruneau described this as a strategic gap in Europe’s military capabilities and noted that ArianeGroup is the only entity with full expertise in this area. Bruneau also addressed the challenge of scaling up production for Ariane 6, aiming for 10 launches per year starting in 2027. He stressed the need to move from a high-end, custom approach to a more industrialized, scalable process without sacrificing quality. He pointed out that France has faced significant costs from skill gaps in the past, such as during delays in the Ariane 5 program. Cavaillolès, of Arianespace, expressed excitement about the future, revealing that the company has secured contracts equivalent to nearly 10 Ariane 6 launches. He called the current demand "never seen before" and noted that Amazon is the largest customer so far, with 18 launches ordered. Arianespace has completed nine successful launches of Ariane 6 since its commercial debut, a track record that has driven the recent surge in orders from a mix of European, international, and institutional clients. Meanwhile, the reusable Maia rocket, developed by MaiaSpace, is on track for its first flight in the second half of 2027. Leroy, MaiaSpace’s leader, emphasized the company’s focus on creating a competitive, industrial product rather than just a prototype. The company is currently testing systems and expects to ignite the Prometheus engine in Normandy by early 2027. The "Maia Factory," which was recently launched with government support, aims to boost production capacity once fully operational. Looking ahead, MaiaSpace plans to launch two identical rockets in quick succession for its first two test flights before starting commercial operations. Leroy noted that five contracts have already been signed, securing more than a dozen launches. When asked about the recent success of a German competitor, Isar Aerospace, Leroy stated that MaiaSpace aims to achieve its first successful flight well before 2030, despite starting later than some rivals in 2022. The company hopes to reach 20 launches per year by the end of the decade. Bruneau expressed frustration with the media’s portrayal of ArianeGroup, sometimes labeling it as outdated. He pointed out that the company is jointly owned by Airbus and Safran, both major global corporations, and emphasized that the competition is a long-term challenge. Cavaillolès noted that the growing number of customer orders, despite the lack of monopolies, gives confidence in facing SpaceX, which he views more as a telecommunications provider than a pure rocket company. He highlighted the upcoming Iris² program as a critical test for European space ambitions.