This is incorrect, ArianeGroup is mostly french, it's a joint venture between Airbus and Safran.
replyThe work and know-how is mainly spread between Germany, France and Italy.
The mechanism that ensures it is called "national return". The order volume per country has to correspond to the countries respective monetary contribution.
replyI worked on the Ariane from 2000 to 2006."National return" was a pain for all the smaller companies and they usually founded subsidiaries in all the other member states to game the system.
Without Germany and Italy, France can build and fly no Ariane. Not even close.
Avio does the Ariane SRBs & it is an Italian company.
replyIt's another 50% joint venture?
replyWho owns how much of the enterprise says little about who contributes to and owns control and know-how of the project. This is even more true for a political project like the Ariane.
replyNot to diminish France's contribution but without Germany and Italy there would be no Ariane. France could not build one and could not fly one.