Thales Alenia Space to Supply 179 Electronic Units to Fly on 27 Ariane 6 Launchers

 Ariane 6 – Launch pad © ESA - L. Bourgeon

Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), announces the signing of a contract to supply 179 electronic units to equip 27 Ariane 6 launchers. The contract was signed today with SABCA, the Belgian firm responsible for the launcher’s Thrust Vector Actuation Systems (TVAS), in which the units built by Thales Alenia Space in Belgium will be integrated. These units provide the electronics to power and control these subsystems in each of Ariane 6’s stages and boosters to keep it on course after launch.

This latest contract follows on from the one signed with ArianeGroup in June at the Paris Air Show to supply 128 neutralization firing units (NFU). The NFUs are part of the launcher’s range and flight safety subsystem, a critical element during all mission phases from the ground to orbit.

The two contracts confirm Thales Alenia Space in Belgium’s recognized decades-long expertise in the highly strategic field of launchers.

“Thales Alenia Space’s Belgian teams would like to thank SABCA for renewing their trust in our leading-edge power and control electronics technologies on the Ariane space launchers developed by ArianeGroup,” said Pierre Desmaele, CEO of Thales Alenia Space in Belgium. “This new order will enable us to consolidate our expertise and sustain our business in the demanding European space launch sector. We are proud to be contributing via SABCA with our advanced technologies to Europe’s space sovereignty through independent access to space.”

“This contract confirms the technological excellence of Belgium’s space industry base and the strategic value of the Belgian government’s investments in this field,” said SABCA General Manager Samuel Weynants. “SABCA is very pleased to be able to rely on the electronics expertise of Thales Alenia Space in Belgium to deliver on its role as subsystems supplier for Ariane 6. This contract marks a first step toward securing Europe’s long-term independent space launch capability, but it is not an end in itself. To consolidate this capability, it is vital to develop a competitive launcher, a task to which SABCA – with its industry partners, including Thales Alenia Space in Belgium – is devoting its energies.”

Vanessa Matz, Belgian Federal Minister for Public Action and Modernization, responsible for Public Enterprises, the Civil Service, State Property Management, Digital Technology, and Science Policy, welcomes the fact that Belgian companies such as Thales Alenia Space are playing a key role in strategic European programs and contributing directly to Europe's independent access to space. “When you consider that 65% of satellites in orbit belong to private American players, it is essential for Europe to preserve its own access to space, and Belgium can be proud to have companies that contribute directly to this,” said Vanessa Martz. "This contract is also a very concrete illustration of the strength of Belgian industrial expertise and the positive impact of Belgium's investments in the ESA: the space sector now accounts for more than 6,000 direct jobs in Belgium and generates an average of three euros in economic benefits for every euro invested."

Over half a century working for European space transportation

Thales Alenia Space’s involvement in Ariane 6 is the result of more than 50 years working in the field of space transportation. Since the early 1970s, Thales Alenia Space in Belgium is a key industry partner, developing and fabricating thousands of components and systems for Europe’s portfolio of launchers, among them the entire Ariane series from Ariane 1 through to Ariane 5, and today Ariane 6. All this expertise and industrial involvement could only be achieved thanks to the strong support of BELSPO during the development and production phases.

Thales Alenia Space in Belgium is the supplier of Ariane 6’s range and flight safety system that aborts the launcher if it veers off trajectory, protecting people and property. The electronics at the heart of this system are wholly designed and built by our teams in Belgium.

Thales Alenia Space’s facility in Charleroi also supplies the control electronics to SABCA for Ariane 6’s three Thrust Vector Actuation Systems (TVAS). Developed by SABCA, these systems are vital for controlling the launcher’s trajectory, steering the nozzles on the P120C boosters, the main cryogenic stage (Lower Liquid Propulsion Module – LLPM) and the reignitable upper cryogenic stage (Upper Liquid Propulsion Module – ULPM).