ROLLS-ROYCE AND TURBOMECA (SAFRAN GROUP) EXTEND ADOUR AGREEMENT
Rolls-Royce and Turbomeca (SAFRAN Group) have extended Europe’s longest-running aerospace joint venture by renewing their collaboration on the Adour engine for a further 30 years.
Co-operation between Rolls-Royce and Turbomeca began in May 1965, with the agreement between the British and French governments to build the Jaguar fighter / trainer aircraft. Six months later, the partnership was selected to develop and supply the Adour engine for the Jaguar.
The Adour went on to power the Hawk trainer aircraft and, with the advent of its latest and most advanced variant, the Mk951, the engine is demonstrating its continued evolution. As a result, today’s engine for the Hawk has been redesigned completely to offer customers a modern power system tailored to the trainer requirement.
The Mk951 also benefits from the integration of the very latest in both civil and defence engine technologies and has been selected for two future UCAV studies, the European nEUROn and the UK’s Taranis development programmes.
Emeric d'Arcimoles, Chairman of Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Limited and Chairman and CEO of Turbomeca, said: “Rolls-Royce and Turbomeca signed the continuation of the RTM 322 helicopter engine collaboration in 2006, so this new Adour agreement is another key step in the longstanding co-operation between the two companies. I am proud to be part of such a historic moment, and look forward to the future of this successful enterprise.”
Martin Fausset, Vice Chairman of Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Limited and Managing Director of Rolls-Royce Defence Aerospace, said: “We are pleased to be signing this extension of what has clearly been a very successful collaboration. Despite its long-standing pedigree, the Adour Mk951 is virtually a new engine and we are confident that it will continue to set a high benchmark in the trainer market.”
Since its launch over 2,800 Adour engines have been delivered to date, clocking up well over seven million flying hours.
Notes for Editors
Rolls-Royce Turbomeca (RRTM) formally came into existence in May 1966, when a Co-operation Agreement was signed between the parent companies. RRTM Ltd. was founded one month later.
The latest Adour, the Mk951, was launched in response to customer requirements and features improved performance of eight per cent of thrust relative to the Mk871, and improved target time between overhaul.
The Mk951 also has a FADEC (full authority digital electronic control) system which provides engine-handling assistance for pilots and is available for all current variants of the Hawk family. FADEC offers surge detection and recovery, so if an engine cuts out it recovers power automatically, without pilot intervention, leaving the pilot free to fly the aircraft.
The Adour Mk951 is now operated by the air forces of launch customer South Africa and Bahrain and the engine has also been ordered by the UK.
The market-leading RTM322 helicopter engine, another Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Limited product, has been selected by over 90 per cent of NH90 customers and approximately 60 per cent of the EH101 current fleet. It also powers the UK’s fleet of Apache helicopters.
