Inside Italian defence tech (2026)
Jul 17
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Augsburg, Germany
Kiruna, Sweden
Unst, Shetland, United KingdomAugsburg, GermanyKiruna, SwedenUnst, Shetland, United Kingdom
Products & Solutions
RFA ONE
A three-stage small launch vehicle standing 30 metres tall, powered by nine Helix staged-combustion engines on the first stage. It delivers up to 1,300 kg to 500 km sun-synchronous orbit, 850 kg to 2,000 km polar orbit, or 450 kg to geostationary transfer orbit. The rocket uses stainless steel tanks with common bulkheads and automotive-grade composite interstages manufactured on in-house automated tape-laying equipment. It is offered in dedicated and rideshare configurations, with first-stage recovery planned for a future variant.
Redshift OTV
An orbital transfer vehicle that rides as the upper stage of RFA ONE and provides last-mile payload delivery to any target orbit. Equipped with a vacuum-optimised Helix engine and more than 2.5 km/s of delta-v, Redshift can perform altitude adjustments, inclination changes and phase shifts during a single mission, enabling one launch to serve multiple operators at different orbits. It is offered in multiple configurations with modular payload accommodation.
Videos
Full Virtual Opening Ceremony – Inaugurating the Rocket Factory
RFA ONE S1 Test Anomaly Update (Official)
About
Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) is a German launch services company founded in 2018 as a spinoff from OHB and MT Aerospace Holding. Headquartered in Augsburg, the company develops and manufactures small launch vehicles and propulsion systems aimed at providing flexible, low-cost access to orbit for commercial and institutional satellite operators.
Offices
Augsburg, GermanyKiruna, SwedenUnst, Shetland, United KingdomBacked by
KKROHBUK Space AgencyDLR
Customers & Partners
ESAOHB Cosmos InternationalDLRSaxaVord SpaceportCNESATMOS Space CargoYuri
Timeline
2025-07
Pre-selected by ESA as one of five candidates for the European Launcher Challenge, with up to €169 million per company earmarked.
2025-01
RFA UK received the first vertical orbital launch operator licence issued in Europe, from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
2023-08
Secured a €30 million investment from KKR via convertible bond, with OHB continuing as strategic investor.
2023-06
Completed a 280-second full-duration upper stage hot fire test, the first staged-combustion engine test of this type in Europe.
2022
Won the DLR microlauncher competition, securing German government backing for RFA ONE development.
2018
Founded in Augsburg as a spinoff from OHB and MT Aerospace Holding.
Open Positions (4)
Products & Solutions
RFA ONE
A three-stage small launch vehicle standing 30 metres tall, powered by nine Helix staged-combustion engines on the first stage. It delivers up to 1,300 kg to 500 km sun-synchronous orbit, 850 kg to 2,000 km polar orbit, or 450 kg to geostationary transfer orbit. The rocket uses stainless steel tanks with common bulkheads and automotive-grade composite interstages manufactured on in-house automated tape-laying equipment. It is offered in dedicated and rideshare configurations, with first-stage recovery planned for a future variant.
Redshift OTV
An orbital transfer vehicle that rides as the upper stage of RFA ONE and provides last-mile payload delivery to any target orbit. Equipped with a vacuum-optimised Helix engine and more than 2.5 km/s of delta-v, Redshift can perform altitude adjustments, inclination changes and phase shifts during a single mission, enabling one launch to serve multiple operators at different orbits. It is offered in multiple configurations with modular payload accommodation.
Videos
Full Virtual Opening Ceremony – Inaugurating the Rocket Factory
RFA ONE S1 Test Anomaly Update (Official)
Open Positions (4)
About
Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) is a German launch services company founded in 2018 as a spinoff from OHB and MT Aerospace Holding. Headquartered in Augsburg, the company develops and manufactures small launch vehicles and propulsion systems aimed at providing flexible, low-cost access to orbit for commercial and institutional satellite operators.
Offices
Augsburg, GermanyKiruna, SwedenUnst, Shetland, United KingdomBacked by
KKROHBUK Space AgencyDLR
Customers & Partners
ESAOHB Cosmos InternationalDLRSaxaVord SpaceportCNESATMOS Space CargoYuri
Timeline
2025-07
Pre-selected by ESA as one of five candidates for the European Launcher Challenge, with up to €169 million per company earmarked.
2025-01
RFA UK received the first vertical orbital launch operator licence issued in Europe, from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
2023-08
Secured a €30 million investment from KKR via convertible bond, with OHB continuing as strategic investor.
2023-06
Completed a 280-second full-duration upper stage hot fire test, the first staged-combustion engine test of this type in Europe.
2022
Won the DLR microlauncher competition, securing German government backing for RFA ONE development.
2018
Founded in Augsburg as a spinoff from OHB and MT Aerospace Holding.
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