In a joint statement dated 23 February 2026, the signatories warn that current trilogue positions could allow wider cross-border use of longer and heavier vehicles.
The upper stage uses helium to maintain the proper environmental conditions for the stage’s engine and to pressurize liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant tanks.
The ramp-up in production follows strong performance during ground and flight testing, the manufacturer says, with multiple aircraft now undergoing evaluation.
