ArianeGroup has signed a contract with Airbus for the next transition batch of Ariane 6 large carbon fibre
structures.
The deal includes the manufacturing and supply of
large, lightweight structures for the next fourteen Ariane 6
launchers, to be manufactured until 2025. The contract will
support ArianeGroup’s ramp up to full production rate by then.
“Following the signature of the exploitation
contracts with Sabca, Europropulsion, Avio and MTAerospace, this
contract with Airbus is a new and key step towards a strong Ariane
6 European team,” said Stephane Nogatchewsky, Head of Procurement
of ArianeGroup. “While the inaugural flight of Ariane 6 is getting
closer and the industrial ramp up is intensifying, this
collaboration is a positive and critical milestone for the future
of Ariane 6 operations. Also, unifying European actors is
paramount to ensure further Ariane 6 industrial robustness,
competitiveness and preserve European autonomous access to space.”
Airbus builds up to four carbon fibre structures
for each Ariane launcher at its new state-of-the-art site in Getafe
near Madrid. The facility has a dedicated
manufacturing and assembly line for the Ariane 6 launcher
structures.
The latest technology innovations have resulted in
reduced mass while delivering a stronger structure in a single
piece at a lower cost.
The Interface Structure (upper and lower)
is the largest space carbon fibre structure ever produced in
Europe.
The other structures include the Launch Vehicle Adapter,
for the upper stage; and the Equipped Solid Rocket upper part of
each rocket booster.
“Signing this contract is a significant step
forward, not only for Airbus and its launcher activities in Spain,
but for the overall Ariane 6 programme,” said Luis Guerra, head of
Space Systems in Airbus in Spain. “It demonstrates that Spanish
participation is key to the future of Ariane 6 and what is next in
space for Europe.”
The Ariane 6 programme is the only European asset
that allows independent access to space for strategic missions,
and the flexibility to launch both heavy and light payloads to a
wide range of orbits for applications such as Earth observation,
telecommunication, meteorology, science and navigation.
