This will be Galileo’s first launch on the Ariane 6 rocket and the fifth launch of Europe’s heavy-lift launcher. Using Ariane 6 to place in orbit the EU’s independent satellite navigation system is a testament to Europe’s space capability and autonomy. This launch continues Galileo’s history with Ariane. Nine years ago, nearly to the day, the first quadruple Galileo launch occurred on Ariane 5.

Since Galileo was declared operational in 2016, it has provided one metre positioning accuracy to users worldwide, contributed to saving thousands of lives and added authentication to mitigate the threat of spoofing.

The constellation was completed as designed in 2024, with the first Galileo satellite decommissioned in April 2025 after 12 years of service. L14 will support Europe’s continued leadership in satellite navigation as it ensures the precision, availability and robustness of the Galileo system and services.

After L14, four Galileo First Generation satellites remain to be launched, after which Galileo Second Generation satellites will begin to join the constellation.

Galileo Second Generation satellites will integrate seamlessly with the current fleet to form the largest European satellite constellation and deliver essential services worldwide. With fully digital navigation payloads, electric propulsion, a better-performing navigation antenna, inter-satellite link capacity, additional atomic clocks and experimental clocks to be validated in orbit, the Second Generation satellites will provide more robust and reliable positioning, navigation and timing.