GKN Aerospace wins contracts for Ariane 6 rocket engine

 

East Cowes, UK – GKN Aerospace will develop and manufacture advanced rocket engine sub-systems for the Ariane 6 launch vehicle, under prime contractor Airbus Safran Launchers, after securing major new contracts.

 

The contracts cover sub-systems for both the main (VULCAIN 2.1) and upper (VINCI) stage engines for the European Space Agency-led new-generation rocket launcher.

 

GKN Aerospace will provide five complex sub-systems for each Ariane 6 rocket, including four turbine assemblies for the two engines, generating power for the hydrogen and oxygen fuel systems. These turbine assemblies will be manufactured at GKN Aerospace’s engine systems operation in Trollhättan, Sweden.

 

Among the sub-systems being supplied by GKN Aerospace will be an advanced nozzle (SWAN) for the Vulcain 2.1 engine. This is the first flying nozzle to incorporate technologies such as laser-welded sandwich walls and additively manufactured structural reinforcements. By exploiting the company’s expertise in these cutting-edge technologies, GKN Aerospace has developed sandwich nozzle technology that is significantly more robust than earlier versions, can meet increased production rate requirements, and has 40% lower manufacturing costs.

 

Torgny Stenholm, vice president Services & Special Products GKN Aerospace – Engine Systems, Trollhättan, said: “With the support of the Swedish National Space Board we participated in the initial engine demonstrator programs which allowed us to work with our customer to prove technologies in operation and at full scale. We have also been able to demonstrate the successful migration of a number of advanced technologies between our space activities and commercial aviation, with valuable benefits for commercial aerospace in weight and cost reduction, and faster production rates.”

 

GKN Aerospace’s space business unit, in Trollhättan, Sweden, has been active in the Ariane program from its inception in 1974 and has made more than 1,000 combustion chambers and nozzles as well as over 250 turbines for the Ariane rocket to date. Today it is the European center of excellence for turbines and metallic nozzles, having contributed to the program at every stage from initial research and development through cooperation with academia to the serial production of the Ariane 5 rocket. 

 

Ariane 6’s first flight is scheduled for 2020 with production rates increasing from the current six Ariane 5 rockets to eleven Ariane 6.