Ariane 5 ECA uses the ESC ("Étage Supérieur Cryotechnique"—Cryogenic Upper Stage), which is fueled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
===Prva stopnja===Ariane 5 ima kriogenično prvo stopnjo H158 (H173 za Ariane 5 ECA), ki jo Francozi imenujejo EPC (Étage Principal Cryotechnique), kdaj tudi glavna stopnja.