Rolls-Royce Turbomeca signs $1 bn helicopter engine contract

Rolls-Royce Turbomeca has signed a $1 billion (Euros 1.1 billion) contract at the Paris Air Show to supply RTM322 engines for the 399 NH90 helicopters ordered by Germany, Holland and France. The contract was signed by Rolls-Royce Turbomeca and Eurocopter for the supply of production of RTM322-01/9 engines to NH Industries.

Rolls-Royce Turbomeca is a 50:50 joint venture between Rolls-Royce plc and Turbomeca, part of the Snecma group.

Germany, Holland and France announced a year ago that they had selected the RTM322 for their NH90 helicopters. The contract signed yesterday gave the go-ahead for the first batch of 254 production engines to be manufactured and includes support preparation for the engines throughout their lives. It also sets out the framework terms and conditions for all future batches.

RTM322 engines will power up to 219 German, 160 French and 20 Dutch NH90 helicopters. Engine components will be manufactured in each country, with engines being finally assembled by Rolls-Royce Deutschland - Germany's only full-system aero-engine manufacturer; by Turbomeca in France and, possibly, other parties.

Emeric D'Arcimoles, Chairman of Rolls-Royce Turbomeca, said: "This contract signing formalises the selection of the RTM322 for NH90. This is the fourth application for the RTM322 which has excellent prospects for the future as the power system of choice for the medium-lift multi-engine helicopter market."

The RTM322 has been in service since 1998. Nearly 300 production engines have been delivered and are in service on EH101 Mk 1 and Mk 3 in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force and the Apache AH Mk 1 in the British Army.

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