Avio S.p.A.

Avio S.p.A. is a leading company in space propulsion. AVIO originates from the historical BPD – Difesa e Spazio based in Colleferro, Rome, Italy. The expertise and know-how acquired in over 100 years currently allows AVIO to compete with the top players in the segment of solid, liquid and cryogenic space propulsion. Today, AVIO plays a strategic role in the global space industry through Ariane 5, a programme involving the largest satellite launcher in Europe. Since 2000, through the subsidiary ELV (70 percent owned by AVIO and 30 percent by Agenzia Spaziale Italiana), AVIO is the main contractor and systems integrator of Vega, a light launcher of satellites up to 1,500 kg whose qualification launch took place successfully in February 2012 and the first commercial flight in May 2013. AVIO has been present at the European Space Centre in the French Guiana since 1984 through the companies Regulus (60 percent AVIO owned), which produces solid propellant for launcher boosters and fuels Ariane and Vega’s first-stage engines; and Europropulsion (50 percent AVIO), in charge of booster assembly, and ELV for integration of the entire Vega launcher. AVIO is also active in the area of propulsion systems for tactical missiles, where it manufactures the booster for the Aster 30 missile and other high technology products