The Ariane 5 ground installations (ELA 3) have been entirely financed by the ESA and are constituted of four main areas: br>
- the solid-propellant booster integration building

- the launcher integration building, BIL

- the final assembly building, BAF

- the launch zone.

Arianespace took possession of the ELA-3 facilities on 25th November 1997 and the formal handover ceremony occurred on the 4th March 1998.

In the 90-m high Final Assembly Building the upper composite, consisting of one or two satellites inside the Ariane fairing, is assembled on top of the lower composite to make a complete launcher. This takes about 12 days.