en.Wedoany.com Reported - French startup Latitude plans to conduct the first launch of its small launch vehicle from the Etlaq Spaceport in Oman by the end of 2027. The company announced on July 1 that it has signed a letter of intent with the Etlaq Spaceport to use the Omani launch site for the rocket's "experimental" maiden flight. The announcement coincides with the visit of Omani leader Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said to France and his meeting with President Emmanuel Macron.
Latitude stated that teams from the company and the spaceport have been meeting over the past few weeks to study the feasibility of using Etlaq for rocket launches, and the signing of the letter of intent will further advance this work. The company said this preparatory phase will allow both parties to precisely assess the technical and operational conditions required for the success of the first launch campaign.
Latitude has been developing a small launch vehicle capable of carrying payloads of up to 200 kilograms into low Earth orbit for several years. The rocket was initially named Zephyr, but the company now refers to it only as "our launcher" without an official name. Last month, the company said it had conducted two hot-fire tests of the Navier engine that powers the rocket, initiating the engine's full qualification process.
Latitude said launching from Oman will "complement" its plans to launch from the Guiana Space Centre. The company has not disclosed the frequency of launches from Etlaq after the maiden flight. The spaceport, located on Oman's southern coast, has so far only conducted sounding rocket launches but is seeking to expand into orbital launches.
Latitude is the third European launch company to announce the use of the Etlaq Spaceport. Spain's PLD Space said in February 2025 that it would also launch from the site in addition to French Guiana; Germany's HyImpulse said last month it had signed a letter of intent to study the use of Etlaq for its suborbital and orbital vehicles.
Both Latitude and Etlaq emphasized the geopolitical and technical factors in their agreement. Azzan Kais Al Said, CEO of the Etlaq Spaceport, said in a statement that partnering with companies like Latitude enhances its capabilities and reflects the growing confidence of international players in Oman as a future space hub. Olivier Zarrouati, Chairman of the Strategic Committee at Latitude, said in the statement that space has become an arena shaping the future strategic balance, and the signing coinciding with President Macron's meeting with His Majesty the Sultan is no coincidence, reflecting the shared ambition of France and Oman to build independent space capabilities.
