Thales Alenia Space is to build a new space systems plant in Leuven, Belgium. The facility will start operations in the first half of 2014.
Thales said that the new structure will initially have a team of about 20 engineers, tasked with developing new…
Thales Alenia Space is to build a new space systems plant in Leuven, Belgium. The facility will start operations in the first half of 2014.
Thales said that the new structure will initially have a team of about 20 engineers, tasked with developing new avionics products and technologies for satellites and launch vehicles.
Subsidiary Thales Alenia Space Belgium, which currently operates out of a site in Charleroi, specialises in satellite power supplies and provides electronics for the Ariane 5 rocket. The Leuven plant will particularly aid in the design of the latter.
Thales added that the new facility will work closely with the company’s microelectronics centre of expertise in Leuven.
Emmanuel Terrasse, vice president for R&D and business development at Thales, commented: “By setting up this new operation in Leuven, Thales Alenia Space Belgium will strengthen its leadership in the Belgian space industry. In particular, this new facility will offer design services focused on Europe’s new launchers. Our aim is to develop innovative solutions that will enable us to carve out a position as the primary supplier for avionics and other electronics equipment on Ariane 6.”
