BERLIN, June 5 (Reuters) - Europe's new Ariane 6

satellite launcher will stage a long-awaited inaugural flight on

July 9, the head of the European Space Agency said at the Berlin

Airshow on Wednesday.

The delayed debut comes a year after its predecessor, Ariane

5, was retired, leaving Europe with no independent path to orbit

for its satellites after setbacks involving a smaller Italian

alternative and the severing of ties with Russia over Ukraine.

(Reporting by Joanna Plucinska

Writing by Madeline Chambers

Editing by Thomas Seythal)