RUAG Space launch structures. Photo: RUAG Space

[Via Satellite 08-03-2015] Switzerland-based RUAG Space has agreed to establish a composites production capability in the United States at United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Decatur, Ala., factory.

RUAG provides carbon fiber structures for ULA’s Atlas launch vehicles, namely the payload fairing for the larger Atlas 5-500 launcher as well as the interstage adapter for the smaller Atlas 5-400. Today the company manufactures these structures in Switzerland at its Zurich and Emmen locations. This work, plus the production of several new additional structures for the recently announced ULA Vulcan rocket, will take place at the Decatur facility. RUAG’s presence in Decatur is expected to create approximately 100 local jobs by 2019.

“We are pleased with this new partnership that leverages so many mutually beneficial business objectives, while substantially lowering costs,” said Tory Bruno, president and CEO, ULA.