Dassault Aviation and OHB have formed an alliance to propose the Vortex-S reusable spaceplane to the European Space Agency (ESA).
The Vortex-S is described as a multipurpose spaceplane, designed as a high-wing glider with a central gondola for operations in low Earth orbit logistics. This proposal aims to enhance Europe’s space capabilities through the joint effort between the French Dassault and German OHB.
The initiative builds on Dassault’s broader Vortex program, launched at the 2025 Paris Air Show with a 30 million euro budget from the French armaments directorate and the National Center for Space Studies. The program follows an incremental approach with phases including Vortex-D, a 1/3-scale demonstrator scheduled for its inaugural flight in 2028; Vortex-S at 2/3 scale as a smart free-flyer; and subsequent cargo and crewed variants.
For the Vortex-D phase, Dassault selected Spanish firm Arkadia Space to supply a propulsion system featuring Ariel 250N monopropellant engines for reaction control during high-altitude mission phases. This system includes tanks and electronics, marking Arkadia’s involvement in key European space projects alongside MaiaSpace.