Avio's leadership in space lays its foundations in BPD Defence and Space (Colleferro, Rome), a leader in the field of military and space propulsion acquired in 1994, which had begun industrial activity at the beginning of last century with the production of explosives and propellants for military applications.
The experience and know-how acquired from BPD over the years enabled the company to set up a very successful line of activities and products in the field of solid, liquid and cryogenic propulsion.
Today Avio has a strategic role in the space sector at worldwide level: within the Ariane 5 programme, the largest European satellite launcher, the Group is responsible for the powerful solid propellant lateral motors (boosters), which are in charge of the lift-off from surface up to 65 kilometres, and for the liquid oxygen turbo pump, a total 14% of the launcher’s value.
Through its subsidiary ELV (70% Avio, 30% Italian Space Agency), the Group is prime contractor and complete systems analyst for the European launch vehicle Vega, a light launcher for satellites up to 1,500 kg in LEO (Low Earth Orbit) that includes three solid propellant stages and a final liquid propellant one.
