MTR390 helicopter engine contract let

MTR390 helicopter engine contract let

http://defence-data.com/storypic/tiger2.jpg [not image]
17 January 2000

Officials of the German Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) and MTU Rolls-Royce Turbomeca GmbH (MTR) have signed a Ј140 million (DM430 million) contract for the first 320 of approximately 1,000 MTR 390 engines, which will power Tiger attack helicopters of the French and German armed forces.



Tiger Attack Helicopter
Production work under the new contract will be undertaken in the facilities of the three partner companies in MTR - MTU Munchen, Turbomeca and Rolls-Royce - with deliveries between 2001 and 2011.

Hans Fischer, MTR's managing director, said: "The contract covers the production of the first batch, which is a major boost for the MTR partners' production lines in France, Germany and the UK. The production go-ahead will also help the marketing efforts aimed at finding new applications for the MTR390 engine."

Under current workshare arrangements, MTU is responsible for the combustor and high-pressure turbine, Turbomeca for the compressor, gearbox, accessories and control system, including FADEC, and Rolls-Royce for the power turbine. Most of the Rolls-Royce manufacturing activity is undertaken at its Ansty, Bristol and Derby factories.

Thirty development and prototype engines were manufactured to undertake bench and flight development programmes. The engine type has so far logged 17,400 running hours, including more than 6,000 in flight, powering Tiger prototypes and Panther flying test beds.

The MTR390's export prospects are promising, with discussions presently under way with potential Tiger customers in Australia, Spain, Turkey, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

Defence Systems Daily