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Dassault and OHB Partner on VORTEX-S Spaceplane Bid

May 11, 2026

2 min read

Key Takeaways

Dassault Aviation and OHB will jointly propose VORTEX-S to ESA.
VORTEX-S is a reusable spaceplane for low Earth orbit cargo missions.
Partnership includes discussions with other European space companies.
Initial funding of €30 million from French DGA and CNES.

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Strategic Implications

This partnership may signal a significant shift in Europe's space capabilities, with Dassault and OHB's collaboration potentially strengthening the region's position in the global space market. The VORTEX-S proposal suggests a focus on reusable spaceplanes, which could indicate a new direction for European space exploration and development.

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What Happened

European Companies Team Up for ESA Low Earth Orbit Cargo Competition

Dassault Aviation and OHB have announced a partnership to propose the VORTEX-S reusable spaceplane to the European Space Agency (ESA), with the goal of strengthening Europe’s space capabilities. The VORTEX-S is part of a four-step roadmap, with the full family ranging from a 1:3-scale flight demonstrator to a crewed configuration. The partnership is backed by an initial €30 million from the French Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) and the Centre national d’études spatiales (CNES). This development was first reported by AeroTime.

Source

Companies Mentioned