Avio S.p.A. is an Italian company operating in the aerospace sector with its head office in Colleferro near Rome, Italy. Created by a merger in 2003, and with roots tracing back to 1908, it is present in Italy and abroad with different commercial offices and 10 production sites. Avio operates in: solid-propellant motors for space and tactical propulsion electronic/electrical control and automation systems Avio is Prime Contractor for the new European launcher Vega and sub-contractor for the Ariane program, both financed by the European Space Agency. The company is active in the field of technological research. It carries out projects in collaboration with 14 Italian and 10 foreign universities and research centres, which are aimed at the continuous improvement of product and process technologies. It also undertakes the research of solutions in order to reduce the environmental impact of aircraft engines, in conformity with the objectives of consumption and emissions reduction dictated, within the European area, by the ACARE body. Avio has 5 sites in Italy, France and French Guiana, and employs around 1200 people, about 30% of whom work in research and development. Wikipedia