French Air Force protects rocket launch

Rafale fighters of the French Air Force provide air cover during a the recent launch of the Ariane 6 rocket in French Guiana, South America, on 17 December 2025. The Ariana 6 is an expendable heavy lift system developed as a joint venture by the European Space Agency and the French Space Agency and manufactured by a consortium of European companies. The rocket is liquid fueled, a choice intended to reduce production costs and increase the number of missions annually. The system has been criticized for not being reusable, like the Space X Falcon 9, but its supporters assert that it grants European countries space access and autonomy.

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