This is how Avio is going to conquer the American missile market
Avio USA, the subsidiary of the leading Italian space propulsion company that builds the Vega launcher, has signed an agreement with Acmi Properties, a Texan real estate company, to start the first solid propellant engine production plant in the United States
Italian Avio ready to build first rocket engine manufacturing plant in the United States.
Avio USA, a subsidiary of Avio spa, has chosen Acmi Properties to conceive and design its first solid rocket motor production plant on American soil. The project, announced by the leading Italian space propulsion company that creates the Vega launcher in a note , will constitute a "potential investment in the US industrial base to support the rapid increase in demand for solid rocket motors in the aerospace and defense sectors".
So the Giulio Ranzo-led Italian rocket maker plans to launch its first American plant to meet growing demand in the space and defense markets. With this in mind, Avio founded a US subsidiary in 2022, appointing James Syring, a retired US Navy vice admiral and former director of the US Missile Defense Agency, as CEO.
Moreover, last July the Italian company signed with the US giant Raytheon to develop "solid rocket motors essential for defense applications". Additionally, the company will also collaborate with the US Army “for the development and rapid prototyping of a solid rocket motor for surface-to-air applications.”
While the plant's main focus would be on rockets for the US government's tactical needs, the CEO of American subsidiary Syring pointed out that there is also strong demand for boosters from commercial space launchers,SpaceNews points out.
All the details.
THE AGREEMENT WITH TEXANA ACMI PROPERTIES
According to the company, Avio USA and Acmi Properties are currently evaluating several locations to select the best site for the solid rocket motor manufacturing plant. Several states are currently under consideration. The evaluation period is expected to end in the first half of 2025.
Therefore the project paves the way for Avio's investment in the US market. The facility will accommodate the production of several types of solid rocket motors with applications in defense, space exploration and commercial aerospace.
AVIO USA'S STRATEGY
Interviewed by Defense News , Syring said the company's expansion aims to fill lagging U.S. manufacturing capacity rather than gain market share there. “We often hear 'Buy American,' and that's why we are working to establish a sizable factory presence in the United States to serve all customers,” the Avio USA CEO explained. “The Department of Defense – continues Syring – has spoken openly about the need to exploit international production capabilities, given the supply base at its maximum. The DoD supported us in our settlement.”
In addition to capacity, Avio also offered innovations, according to Syring. “Avio has innovative technologies and capabilities for booster cases, thermal shields and nozzle manufacturing that no U.S. rocket engine supplier has.”
THE VALUE OF THE DEFENSE BUSINESS FOR AVIO
«Our company in America has been authorized by the American government and works on classified, defense programs, it is an important achievement. We will do flights for the US Army and for Raytheon, we will also be able to do them for a couple of other customers" explained CEO Giulio Ranzo in an interview today with Il Sole 24 Ore .
As the Confindustria newspaper reminds us, Avio already produces missile engines for the European company MBDA. The Colleferro company already works on propulsion and other components for the Aster 30 missile, as well as the solid rocket motor for the new Camm-Er air defense missile. Its core business is space: with the Vega launcher it has put 120 satellites into orbit in the last 12 years with 22 launches.
Although now the Colleferro company is also aiming at the military business.
«Revenues from the defense sector were historically around 5% of our turnover. In recent years they have grown up to 10%, because MBDA has taken important orders. This year they will reach 17% of consolidated revenues. In five years – estimates Ranzo – revenues from defense will reach around 40% of a turnover that will increase. Defense is profitable and this also allows us to diversify risk", reports Il Sole 24 Ore.
NEAR THE RETURN IN FLIGHT OF VEGA C
Finally, the company is preparing for the Vega C rocket's return to flight, scheduled to launch on December 3 from Kourou carrying the Sentinel-1C radar imaging satellite.
«It is an event awaited by investors», observes Ranzo. The launch program is growing. «After the 4 launches planned for 2025 we will be able to reach 5-6 launches a year».
Last September 5, Vega successfully launched the Sentinel-2C Earth observation satellite, as part of the European Commission's Copernicus programme. With this last flight it officially took its leave to make way for the more powerful Vega C, which debuted in July 2022 . However, the rocket's second launch in December 2022 failed due to a defect in the nozzle of its Zefiro-40 second stage engine, which is not used on the original Vega.
But now Vega C, which offers greater performance and payload capacity, as well as improved competitiveness, is ready to return to the launch pad.
Vega's last flight also marked the beginning of the transition in launch services responsibilities between Arianespace and Avio: the latter will be able to sell satellite launch services with its rocket directly to customers without going through Arianespace, the company controlled by the Franco-German giant ArianeGroup which manages the European Vega and Ariane launchers (made by Arianegroup).
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/spazio-e-difesa/ecco-come-avio-va-alla-conquista-del-mercato-americano-dei-missili/ on Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:57:53 +0000.