The MIURA 5 rocket, developed by Spanish space transportation company PLD Space, has secured a €30 million venture debt loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB), marking the institution’s first direct investment in small satellite launchers. The deal was signed on April 7, 2026, in Elche, Spain.
The financing will support the final development stage of the rocket and help scale PLD Space’s industrial and launch capabilities as the company moves toward commercial operations. The loan is backed by InvestEU, the European Union’s flagship investment programme.
What the MIURA 5 Rocket Is Designed to Do
MIURA 5 is a two-stage rocket built for the small lift launch vehicle segment. It aims to reduce the complexity and scheduling risks that arise when small satellites share rides on medium- or heavy-lift vehicles. The rocket is on track for its first test flight in 2026 and is expected to carry out up to 30 missions per year from multiple spaceports, including the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana.
PLD Space also plans to develop MIURA 5 into a fully reusable rocket, which the company says will offer a more sustainable option for putting small satellites into orbit. The company operates more than 188,000 square metres of facilities across Elche, Teruel, Kourou, and Duqm in Oman, with a workforce of over 450 employees.
EIB’s First Move into Small Launchers
EIB Group President Nadia Calviño said the loan would help PLD Space succeed in launching the MIURA 5 rocket and deploying small satellites for communications, research, and security purposes. EIB Vice President Robert de Groot said Europe needs strong, independent launch capabilities to secure its access to space, and that the bank supports PLD Space in reaching globally competitive price levels.
“Europe needs strong, independent launch capabilities to secure its autonomous access to space. The EIB is proud to support PLD Space in scaling its launch services to reach globally competitive price levels, strengthening Europe’s autonomy in this critical segment.”
Robert de Groot, EIB Vice President
PLD Space Reaches €210 Million in 2026 Funding
With this EIB loan, PLD Space has now secured €210 million in total financing so far in 2026. That figure includes a €180 million Series C funding round closed in March. Ezequiel Sánchez, Executive President of PLD Space, said the EIB deal marks a decisive milestone for the company and for Europe’s space industry.
“Securing this €30 million financing from the European Investment Bank marks a decisive milestone for PLD Space and for Europe’s space industry. It strengthens our ability to expand the industrial and launch infrastructure required to provide dependable access to space for our global pipeline of commercial and institutional customers.”
Ezequiel Sánchez, Executive President, PLD Space
Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius said the investment is part of a broader effort to support European access to space companies, combining public backing with a stable environment for growth. He added that access to space is no longer optional, calling it essential to Europe’s security, economy, and future.
EIB’s Broader Space Investment Strategy
The PLD Space deal adds to the EIB’s New Space portfolio, which includes venture loans to European space companies active across the value chain. That portfolio covers ground stations, satellite manufacturing, Earth observation, communications, orbital logistics, data analytics, and propulsion. The EIB also works with the European Commission, ESA, and the European Innovation Council through initiatives such as Space TechEU to support the development of Europe’s space sector.
The TechEU initiative, under the EIB Group’s 2024-2027 Strategic Roadmap, aims to mobilise €250 billion in investments by 2027 for startups, scale-ups, and companies across Europe. PLD Space was founded in 2011 by Raúl Torres and Raúl Verdú and is headquartered in Elche, Spain.
