Avio S.p.A. (Avio) announced they’ve entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Raytheon, a company from the RTX group, to back Avio in establishing a state-of-the-art solid propellant rocket engine (SRM) facility in the United States, serving Raytheon and other customers as a vertically integrated commercial supplier.
The Memorandum of Understanding with Raytheon
Based on the MoU, Raytheon will have privileged access to a portion of Avio’s plant production capacity to meet future demand. This strategic partnership signifies a crucial outcome in the collaboration between the two companies, based on a contract signed in July of the previous year concerning preliminary engineering works on the Mk104 rocket engine and a recent purchase order to finance via Critical Design Review (CDR) and long-term material procurement for qualification.
The two companies believe that the new Avio facility will be crucial in meeting the growing demand for advanced SRMs and will contribute to the continued success of both in supplying high-quality defense products.
Because of the MoU, Avio and Raytheon pledge to cooperate to ensure the success of this initiative and to support the United States and its allies’ defense needs.
Non-Binding Term Sheet with Lockheed Martin
In addition, Avio announced the signing of a non-binding term sheet with Lockheed Martin to assist in the establishment of Avio USA’s leading solid propellant rocket engine (SRM) facility in the United States, to serve Lockheed Martin and other customers as a vertically integrated commercial supplier.
Thanks to this preliminary agreement, Lockheed Martin will also enjoy privileged access to a share of Avio USA’s plant production capacity to meet future product demand, thereby enhancing the resilience of the US industrial base’s supply chain for both tactical and strategic sized rocket propulsion (SRM) airplanes.
Furthermore, Avio and Lockheed Martin aim to negotiate a strategic cooperation agreement in the near future to further align with the common goal of increasing the secure supply of cost-effective propulsion systems.
This cooperation initiative will strengthen the US industrial base for solid propellant rocket engines, positioning Avio USA as a key player in the defense supply chain.
Source and Image Credit @Avio S.p.A.
