Credit: ArianeGroup / Frank T. Koch / Hill Media
ArianeGroup has awarded an €85 million contract to Belgian aerospace and defence company Sabca for the production of Thrust Vector Control (TVC) systems for 27 Ariane 6 rockets.
Sabca and ArianeGroup signed an initial contract for the production of the first batch of Ariane 6 TVC systems in July 2020. The TVC systems allow both the Vulcain 2.1 core-stage engine and the Vinci upper-stage engine to be steered, providing precise control of the rocket’s trajectory and ensuring stability throughout powered flight. Sabca has supplied TVC systems for the Ariane 4, Ariane 5, and now Ariane 6 rockets, as well as for Avio’s Vega and Vega C rockets.
On 6 October, the company announced that it had received an €85 million contract from ArianeGroup to produce TVC systems for the initial Ariane 6 operational phase, which covers flights 16 through 42.
“This agreement underscores the Belgian industry’s contribution to the Ariane 6 programme and shows the progress in the negotiations with our partners for the operational phase of the launcher,” said Philippe Clar, Director of Space Transportation Programs at ArianeGroup. “Ariane 6 will guarantee European sovereign access to space for years to come.”
This is the second major contract ArianeGroup has awarded for this phase of the rocket’s operation in as many weeks, with MT Aerospace being awarded a contract on 25 September. The OHB subsidiary is responsible for the development of major components of the rocket’s core and upper stages, as well as components for its boosters.
According to a Sabca press release, production of the Ariane 6 TVC systems will be carried out at its facilities in Brussels. The company stated that the process would include contributions from Thales Alenia Space Belgium, ASB, and “other Belgian companies.” In 2020, when the initial contract was signed, Sabca indicated that it would produce between nine and twelve TVC systems per year. The company, however, has not specified in its recent announcement whether that production capacity has been or would need to be increased to meet the requirements of the new contract.