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A European alliance around the Garnet rocket-engine programme.

The 2030+ alliance is already preparing the next level for new-gen launchers in 2030.

September 8th, 2026

Until 2026, SpaceX was proposing « rideshare » services, from 7 000 $/kg for payloads above 50 kg. This service having been stopped since, an opportunity arises for new actors.

In this context, Alpha Impulsion, Indra, Mecano ID, and CT Ingénierie are announcing the establishment of a 2030+ European alliance around the new gen Garnet rocket-engine project. Designed from the get-go as a European programme, Garnet is forged with the industrial & technological expertise of France, Italy and Spain. This structure also gives increased access to talents, competencies, industrials means and funding, while enabling a swift global ramp-up.

Building the European propulsion technology of tomorrow.

« To aim for export, the new European space programmes will need, from their inception, to bring out the best of the competencies of each country.

In order not to be crushed by international competition, sovereignty must be built on competitivity, amongst trusted European partners. We must develop across the continent, attract the best European talents, and distribute activities according to industrial rationale », declares Marius Celette, CEO of Alpha Impulsion.

« Indra remains committed to European space innovation. The autophage engine could become a game-changer to the launch industry, which is why we will need to bring together the best organisations in their fields. Indra is proud to bring decades of expertise on Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC), one of a launcher’s most important systems, on par with propulsion, and certainly the one which deploys the most intelligence », says Simone Centuori, Indra Space Missions Director.

European cooperation is first and foremost an industrial and technological catalyst, at the same time limiting redundant industrial investments. It becomes a complete industrial system over many countries, able to manufacture, integrate and launch the fastest and at the lowest marginal cost.

Alpha Impulsion is currently planning heavy investments in France and Italy (through their subsidiary Alpha Impulsion Italia), accompanied by its partners Indra (ES/IT), Mecano ID (FR) and CT Ingénierie (FR). The company notes that it is “currently in discussions with other partners” to extend this alliance to Northern Europe, notably on the topic of equipment and launch sites.

A “self-eating” propulsion for micro-launchers.

The technology being developed is based on the principle of an autophage propulsion (literally self-eating), in which part of the propulsion system’s structure is progressively consumed as fuel during flight, generating thrust.

This architecture aims to reduce the deadweight carried by the vehicle and, as such, help improve the global efficiency of the launcher. Alpha Impulsion estimates that this approach could contribute to a significant reduction of launch cost: up to -80% compared to conventional solutions.

At the heart of the development programme is the 15 tonnes of thrust Garnet rocket engine. Alpha Impulsion manages a R&D programme dedicated to autophage combustion on a test bench designed, integrated, and operated in its Italian subsidiary. CT Ingénierie will contribute to the preliminary design of the launch vehicle architecture and its Garnet engine, lead Systems Engineering, and provide simulation expertise through its in-house CPS_C tool to model cryogenic and thermal flows within the engine. Indra will bring its expertise in mission analysis and Guidance, Navigation and Control, to estimate the vehicle’s performance. Mecano ID, specialised in thermomechanical design, will lead the development of the autophage insertion systems, which enable the launcher to shrink during flight.

The alliance aims to reach a Technology Readiness Level of 6 with an engine test in 2029. The test will demonstrate combustion stability, fuselage integrity, as well as key performance indicators of rocket propulsion: specific impulse, thrust-to-weight ratio etc.

A global ambition.

The launch service will need to be operational in the 2030s to answer global challenges. ESA estimates in its “Report on the Space Economy 2025” that European launchers have access to one-third of the 12.6B$ global launch market, of which a very small share is captured by European actors today. The primary objective is to propose a solution globally competitive from the first launch, with a target cost to orbit of 4 600 $/kg, a world first for micro-launchers.

Beyond an ambition, this programme is also a necessity for hundreds of academic actors, young startups, and demonstration projects, which once could access space through SpaceX’ cost-effective and reliable “rideshare” service. With Garnet, the alliance commits to an audacious programme to maintain our capacity to launch small satellites with breakthrough technologies, in other words, our capacity to innovate…

Partners

Alpha Impulsion 

Alpha Impulsion is a pioneer in autophage propulsion to propel the next generation of spacecrafts. Since 2022, our team has been growing, based in France (Toulouse) and Italy (Naples), making the most out of European aerospace expertise to greatly reduce the cost of propulsion and offer more efficient solutions for spacecrafts. Garnet is the company’s flagship programme. It is a 15-tonne-thrust (150 kN) autophage rocket engine with a diameter of 80 cm, specifically designed for micro-launchers in the 500 kg payload class.

CT Ingénierie

CT is a leading engineering company throughout the complete product lifecycle. For more than 38 years, our mission has been to provide innovative services and technological solutions that help our clients be more effective and competitive. Today, CT´s success is driven by 2.000+ engineers in seven countries providing end-to-end expert support to leading customers in the aeronautical, space, defence, naval, automotive, railway, energy and industrial plant sectors.

Indra Group

Indra Group is a leading Spanish multinational and one of Europe’s foremost companies in defence and advanced digitalisation. It holds leading positions in the defence, space, air traffic management, mobility and transformative technologies sectors through Minsait, and integrates its sovereign AI, cybersecurity and cyberdefence capabilities under IndraMind. Indra Group promotes a safer and more connected future through innovative solutions, trusted relationships and top talent. Sustainability is an integral part of its strategy and culture, addressing present and future social and environmental challenges. At the end of financial year 2025, Indra Group reported revenues of €5.457 billion, with a local presence in 46 countries and commercial operations in more than 140 countries worldwide.

Mecano ID

MECANO ID is an innovative French  company, founded in 1994, developing advanced mechanical and thermal solutions for the space industry. With more than 30 years of experience, we combine deep expertise in design, engineering and manufacturing to turn complex technical challenges into reliable, high-performance and cost-effective solutions. From the first concept to prototyping and industrialization, we work closely with our customers to accelerate innovation and bring new technologies to life. MECANO ID is the industrial partner for ambitious space projects, combining engineering excellence, innovation and manufacturing expertise.