400N Flow Control Valve 400N Liquid Apogee Engine FCV Production Process Requalification

In the last years Airbus Defence & Space has been responding to the increasingly tough competitive environment for propulsion systems, and is engaged in efforts to develop robust components which are stable in series production to minimize any follow on costs which may occur during late observation of product deficiency during engine or system level testing. Production robustness of the 400N engine FCV is therefore a key element to enhance the competitiveness within the current market. The subject proposal outlines the FCV production establishment at Airbus DS to support the process chain to advance this robustness initiative.

Figure: 400N FCV cross section

Beside the technical and production process improvements with positive price impacts increasing the competiveness of engine, a major driver for the activities in discussion here is to secure current business and maintain the production and supplying equipment for the 400N engine. Therefor the steps proposed here have to be performed and will secure the European independence on the sector, which could not be given by export restricted valves. The proposed FCV requalification will limit the efforts on flow control valve level. The development activities on the FCV shall increase the robustness of the product and reduce the overall unit cost including quality effort.