PLD Space Expands Investment in Guiana Space Centre to €35 Million, Strengthening Europe’s Sovereign Launch Capabilities

Europe’s Commercial Launch Ambitions Gain Momentum in French Guiana

European launch provider PLD Space has announced a major expansion of its investment in launch infrastructure at the Guiana Space Centre (CSG), committing €35 million between 2025 and 2026 to accelerate development of its MIURA 5 launch complex.

The announcement was made during the prestigious Choose France event in Versailles, highlighting growing momentum behind Europe’s push for sovereign and commercially competitive access to space.

The investment makes PLD Space the first private operator to deploy capital expenditure at this scale at the ELM-Diamant site, a significant milestone for Europe’s historic spaceport as it evolves to support a broader commercial launch ecosystem.

Strengthening Europe’s Strategic Autonomy in Space

At the core of the investment is Europe’s long-term ambition to secure independent launch capabilities for institutional, defense, and commercial missions.

By establishing dedicated launch infrastructure at CSG, PLD Space aims to enable European payloads to launch aboard a European rocket from European territory, a capability increasingly viewed as strategically essential amid intensifying geopolitical competition and growing demand for resilient space access.

The company’s MIURA 5 orbital launcher is expected to play a critical role in expanding Europe’s small satellite launch capacity while reducing dependence on non-European launch providers.

“This investment represents a major milestone for PLD Space and for Europe’s emerging commercial launch ecosystem,” said Ezequiel Sánchez, Executive President of PLD Space.

“Developing our own launch infrastructure at the Guiana Space Centre strengthens Europe’s autonomous access to space while contributing to the industrial diversification of CSG. It also reflects our long-term commitment to building scalable, competitive and sovereign launch capabilities from Europe.”

Major Economic Impact for French Guiana

Beyond the strategic implications for Europe’s space sector, the project is expected to deliver substantial economic benefits to French Guiana and the wider French industrial ecosystem.

Of the €35 million total investment:

• €22 million will be executed within France’s industrial ecosystem

• €13 million will go directly to more than 20 companies based in French Guiana

• A significant portion of the contracts involve regional SMEs and industrial suppliers

According to official INSEE economic multipliers for the space sector, the project is expected to generate approximately €21 million in local value added during construction while sustaining an estimated 250–275 indirect and induced jobs.

An additional 35 direct jobs are projected to support future recurring launch operations once the site becomes fully operational.

The initiative reflects a broader effort to deepen industrial participation in Europe’s space economy beyond traditional prime contractors and legacy institutions.

MIURA 5 Launch Infrastructure Nears Completion

PLD Space confirmed that civil works for the MIURA 5 launch complex are now entering their final phase, with completion expected by summer 2026.

In parallel, launch infrastructure elements currently being integrated in Spain are beginning shipment to Kourou in collaboration with CNES.

The company remains on track for its first MIURA 5 launch from the Guiana Space Centre in 2026, a mission widely viewed as a pivotal moment for Europe’s emerging commercial launch market.

The program aligns closely with broader institutional priorities from France and the European Space Agency to diversify and strengthen the industrial base supporting Europe’s sovereign access to space.

As Europe accelerates efforts to secure resilient orbital launch capabilities, PLD Space’s investment signals a growing shift toward commercially driven, sovereign launch infrastructure capable of supporting the continent’s next generation of space missions.