As always with European things, it's quite complicated. I'm not even sure I fully understand myself. Arianespace operates expendable launch systems, but doesn'

As always with European things, it's quite complicated. I'm not even sure I fully understand myself. Arianespace operates expendable launch systems, but doesn't manufacture them (anymore). So though Vega and Ariane 5 are both operated by Arianespace, they are actually designed and built by different companies. - Ariane 5 is manufactured by EADS Astrium (French, German, British and Spanish). - Vega is manufactured by Avio (Italian). You can't really look at Astrium, and wonder why Avio took such a long time to develop the launcher. On the other hand there was definitely some cooperation going on, as for instance the first stage of Vega is derived from Ariane 5, and the improvements will most certainly make it back to Ariane...